Dorothy Bean

Services for Dorothy B. Bean, 85, of Tyler, will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 10:30 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rhett Ainsley officiating. Burial will follow in Cathedral In The Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mrs. Bean passed away on January 7, 2008 in Tyler. Mrs. Bean grew up in Gentry, Arkansas. She and her twin sister, Delores, began piano lessons when they started school, and became an accomplished two-piano team by the time they finished high school. Dorothy and Delores entered Arkansas Tech, then a two year college. During a performance at the University of North Texas, they were given the opportunity to perform Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for Dr. Bain, head of the music department and were subsequently awarded full scholarships to North Texas. After earning master's degrees they taught at Van and Canton Schools in 1949. Delores was later killed in an automobile accident. In the summer of 1954 while visiting her parents in North Little Rock, where her father, Rev. Irl Bridenthal was pastor of Gardner United Methodist Church, she was offered the job of choir director of North Little Rock High School. After directing the choir for six years she became supervisor of music. She retired in 1984. In 1990 Dorothy Bridenthal married Roy Bean, a tenor, and along with soprano Charlotte Murry they performed many programs for senior citizens organizations. In 2001 they built a new home on Lake Palestine and moved to Texas. She was a member of the President's Council at North Texas. Dorothy was very appreciative of the impact the two universities had on her life and has endowed scholarships at both universities. Mrs. Bean is survived by a loving family including her husband, Roy Bean of Bullard; daughter, Judy Breitling and husband Don of Bullard; son, Charles Bean and wife Betty of Nederland, TX; five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, January 10, 2008 at Noonday United Methodist Church immediately following the graveside service. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Dorothy Bean

September 30, 1922 - January 7, 2008