Patricia Pearl (Meissner) Bean

Patricia Pearl Bean (née Meissner) of Healdsburg, born September 5, 1938 in Madera, California to Alma and Walter Meissner, passed peacefully Friday August 19, 2022 after a lengthy illness. She was a few weeks shy of her 85th birthday. Predeceased by her beloved son Scott Walter Bean, she is survived by her husband of sixty one years, Wesley Eric (Bill) Bean, son Kevin Clark Bean, sister Lydell Rotlisberger, niece Laura Hurd, nephew Lee Rotlisberger, and many cousins and extended family.

A longtime resident of Healdsburg, Pat met the love of her life, Bill, at Healdsburg Elementary School and married him in 1961 in Carson City, Nevada. A graduate of San Francisco State University, she taught in local schools for many years. Upon retirement, she became best known throughout Healdsburg as a local author, contributing to several short story collections as well as her own memoir recounting numerous tales of life growing up and living in Healdsburg and Sonoma County after WWII. In addition, she painted in acrylics and watercolor and played and taught classical guitar. She loved singing in her church choir, and it was well known that she sang before she spoke as a child. A textile artist, she created many of the banners which still adorn the walls of Healdsburg Community Church, of which she had been a member of since High School.

She volunteered at the Healdsburg Senior Center, where she was President. She will be much missed by family, members of her church, and the community of Healdsburg.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held at Healdsburg Community Church, 1100 University Ave., on Saturday October 8, 2022, at 11:00 AM.

Published in Healdsburg Tribune · September 20, 2022