March 28, 2024

Bernard Shea

Creston

Bernard Shea, 99, of Creston died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, at Greater Regional Hospice Home-HCI in Creston.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. The Rev. Ken Halbur will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery west of Creston. Open visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. and a 7 p.m. Rosary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the donor's choice. Flag presentation will be given by Theodore J. Martens Post No. 1797 of the Creston V.F.W. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com.

Bernard Lorene Shea, son of Vada Laura (Larson) Shea and John Thomas Shea, was born Oct. 3, 1917, in Creston. He was educated at St. Malachy and graduated from Creston High School in 1937. As a teenager, Bernard began working in his father’s jewelry and watch repair store in Creston.

On March 19, 1937, Bernard married Margaret Cleora Ramsbottom in Rialto, California. They lived and worked in San Diego, California, studying a course on aircraft manufacturing and mechanics. In 1941, he began working at Consolidated Aircraft. Next, he worked as a mechanic with Stearman training planes in Mira Loma Light Academy at Oxnard, California. Bernard entered the Army Air Force in September 1944. He was an electrical specialist on the B29 bombers. Bernard was discharged March 1946 at Fort Logan, Colorado. They had two children, Larry and Marilyn. They returned to California. Margaret and Bernard divorced in 1947. Bernard returned to Creston, and continued in his work with his father in watch repair.

On May 29, 1949, Bernard married Betty Lou Cook in Omaha, Nebraska. They settled in Creston. They had two children, Gary and Marvin. In 1956, Bernard began work as a merchant policeman for Creston. He sold his father’s store in November 1958, after the death of his parents. In 1960-61, Bernard was a Union County constable and continued to work with the Creston Police Department until he retired in September 1979. His jobs included repairing parking meters and ticketing, merchant police night shift and patrolman and parking meter superintendent. During all of these years, Bernard continued his own side business of watch repair, extending it into making and repairing grandfather clocks. Beyond the age of 90, he continued in watch repair.

Bernard was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, American Legion, Eagles Lodge and Library Coffee Club, all in Creston.

Bernard is survived by his wife Betty Lou Shea of Creston; sons, Gary Shea of Creston and Larry (Kathy) of Boring, Oregon; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, son Marvin and daughter Marilyn.