William "Bill" Otis Beeman's Obituary
BEEMAN, William “Bill” Otis, age 72, of Bellbrook, passed away Saturday, November 23, 2024.
Bill graduated from Bellbrook High School, class of ’71, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Ohio University. He retired from Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 2015 as a Contract Negotiator after 33 years of service. He served as a board member and former Greene County Health Department president for 30 years.
In addition, Bill served as a volunteer firefighter with the Bellbrook Fire Department, earning the title of Lieutenant and certifications as an EMT and paramedic over a 20-year career. During his time on the fire department, he organized blood drives and performed first aid and CPR training for community members. Leading by example, Bill donated over 13 gallons of blood!
Bill was also a Boy Scouts of America volunteer scout leader, earning the Wood Badge and Silver Beaver awards. He served as Scout Master of Troop 75 in Bellbrook for over 15 years. As a result of a lifetime of civil service, Bill was inducted into the Bellbrook High School Hall of Fame in 2015.
Easygoing, always willing to help, and compassionate, Bill was a natural leader who lived a full life of service to his family and community. He greatly enjoyed camping, which he often did with family and during events with the Boy Scouts. His family owned property near Shawnee State Park, which they referred to as “down in the hills,” where they often enjoyed camping trips. As an Ohio University Rifle Club member, Bill enjoyed shooting for sport. He was a fan of the Dayton Dragons and the Cincinnati Reds, and he had season tickets to the Dragons for several years. His other hobbies included photography, ham radio, and hunting. Humorously, he often claimed he was an unsuccessful turkey hunter.
Bill enjoyed summer trips to Michigan to visit family, with a lot of time spent at the lake, on the beach, and around the campfire. Bill loved reconnecting with family, which always included drinking beer with Aunt Laura. Among many things, Bill will be remembered for always having a pocket knife readily available for anyone who needed one. However, he will be remembered most for his unwavering commitment to community service and his love of family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Kathleen Beeman. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sandra; son, Grant (Kate) Beeman; daughter, Emily (Ben) Millay; grandchildren, Rhett, Coralynn, Ada Kate, and Camden Millay; one brother, John (Marilouise) Beeman; and sisters, Jane (Joe) Finneran and Ann Beeman.
The family will receive friends 6 –8 pm Thursday, December 12, at Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. A life celebration service will be held at 1 pm on Friday, December 13, at the funeral home, followed by a committal service and burial in Bellbrook Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. Members of the community can also make a blood donation in his honor at the Bellbrook Fire Station located on Rt 725 on Saturday, December 28, between 8 am and 12 pm.
Condolences at www.connerandkoch.com.
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