Kenneth Eugene Bean was born in Alamosa, Colorado in 1928, as the youngest of five children to Luther and Georgia Bean. After graduating from Adams State College with a BA in Chemistry in 1949. He received his MS and Ph.D. (1958) from Stanford University. He was on active duty with the U.S. Army, in 1956-1957, with the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville, Alabama working on the team under Wernher von Braun on coatings for the nose-cone for the Explorer 1 satellite which was the first satellite launched by the U.S. in 1958. From 1958-1962, he was a research chemist with Shell Development Company on agricultural chemicals in Modesto, California.

Kenneth came to Flagstaff in 1962 as the third faculty member in the Chemistry Department when Arizona State College (which later became Northern Arizona University) had 2800 students and 180 faculty. His research focus was surface chemistry. A bumper sticker on his 1963 VW bug which he drove for over 50 years said "Honk if you passed p-chem". In addition to teaching physical chemistry, he also coordinated the chemistry laboratory courses. He served as Chairman of the Faculty and was involved in the formation of the Faculty Senate and many university committees and was honored with an NAU Distinguished Faculty Award. He also was a director and advisor of the Health Preprofessional programs (premed, predental, prevet, etc). He retired from NAU in 1993 and became a Professor Emeritus. He has served in all of the leadership roles with the NAU Retirees Association. He was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1967.

Kenneth and his wife of 48 years Lois Nadene Proffitt were married in California in 1955 and had two daughters, Susan and Alice. He played the flute, sang in the church choir as well as playing the bells. He helped to establish the Nadene Proffitt Bean Cello Scholarship at NAU as well as the Nadene Bean Endowed Cello chair with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. He enjoyed his grandson, Jeremy, numerous nieces and nephews, and daughters. He travelled to many fun places including China (including Tibet), Kenya, extensively in Europe and England, Japan, Iceland, Russia, Turkey, as well as travelling to all 50 states. He was a lay leader and diligent and tireless worker with the Federated Community Church and received the Presbyterian Senior Service Award. Dr. Bean was very active in community affairs including serving as the president of the Flagstaff School Board, member of the Arizona School Board Association, Coconino County Director and member of the Arizona Councils of Government (Community Action Agency), and member of the Coconino County Advisory Council. He was very keen on volunteering whenever and wherever possible. With the NAU Retirees Association, he led the Adopt-a-Highway clean-up effort. He washed dishes regularly for the Flagstaff Family Food Center (Food Bank and Kitchen) and was recognized by the Food Center for his 12 years of service.

He is survived by his sister Hazel Petty, Alamosa, Colorado, his daughters, his grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Kenneth Bean donated his time and effort to many groups and charities listed above. In memory of Ken, please donate your time or money to your favorite charity.
Memorial service will be 10:30 am, Friday, August 12, 2016 at Federated Community Church