SOUTH PORTLAND — Albert D. Bean, 91, died peacefully at Seaside Nursing Home on Thursday, June 9, 2011.

Mr. Bean was born in Portland and lived most of his adult life in South Portland, where he attended public schools and later raised his own family, primarily at his Willard Street home. He was the oldest of four children born to Ida Pearl (Benton) and Roy Bean. Mr. Bean grew up during the Depression and began work at a very young age to help make ends meet for his family. He spent time at the CCC Camp in Cape Elizabeth as a young boy and sent money home to his mother. He enjoyed baseball, basketball, and was a prolific ice skater as a boy and young adult.

During World War II, Mr. Bean worked on Liberty Ships at the South Portland Ship Yard. In the years following the war, he worked building houses and owned his own service station. He worked as a mechanic most of his life and spent more than 20 years as an employee of the City of South Portland. He began as a mechanic, was promoted to foreman, and later became supervisor of the Public Works Garage. Mr. Bean had a strong work ethic, was proud of his work for the City, and wanted to make sure the job was done right. He retired from the City of South Portland in 1981 but returned to part-time work for Portland Glass until his eventual retirement in the late 1980s.

Mr. Bean married Eva Karantza of Portland in 1939 and the two were married for 47 years until her untimely death in 1986. Al and Eva raised three sons together, James, Charles (Jud) and Al. They were very proud of their sons and were always seen together at their many games and activities. Mr. Bean enjoyed listening to baseball in the car and on his front porch in the evenings, a good cigar, listening to country and Greek music, fried seafood, playing the washtub, going to camp on weekends, picnic areas, playing Bid Whist with his sons, picking blueberries, walks to the Point at Willard Beach, a Sunday ride, playing horseshoes, horse races, working around the house, tinkering with cars, a good barbecue with family, and sitting in his backyard on Willard Beach. He married Nancy Conwell in 1989 and they continued to reside in South Portland.

Mr. Bean is survived by his wife Nancy; her daughter Laurie Dupont of South Portland, her son Neal Murphy of Fryeburg; two step-grandchildren; a step-great-grandchild; three sons, James Bean of Milford, Conn., Charles (Jud) Bean of South Portland and Al Bean of Buxton; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Neil Thomas of Scarborough.

Visiting hours were held on Wednesday, June 15 at Hobbs Funeral Home in South Portland with a service followed by a reception, all at Hobbs Funeral Home & Reception Center, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.