Buddy Ray Bearbower

Buddy Ray Bearbower, born December 19, 1933, passed away on Thursday, July 21, after a valiant battle against cancer. Buddy was born in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, and grew up in Santa Ana, CA with his mother and father, Nola and Ray Bearbower, and brother, Bill Bearbower. He attended Santa Ana High School and graduated from Cal State Long Beach. He married his wife of 57 years, Lois Ann (Dooley) Bearbower, in 1954. Besides being one of the best State Farm Insurance agents in Costa Mesa for 51 years, Buddy also loved to play golf, ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and spend time with his family and his Old English Sheepdog, Bentley. He was widely known and admired by many in Orange County due to his contributions to the community, including serving on the board of Santa Ana College, booster clubs of Estancia and Corona del Mar High Schools, Boys Club of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa 900 and Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Buddy will be loved and missed by his loving wife, Lois; their four children: Betsy Bachelier, Caren Rahn, Reed Bearbower and Tod Bearbower; his 14 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; extended family members and countless friends. Buddy was the best Dad and Poppa that we could ever ask for, and the world will not be the same without him.

A celebration of Buddy’s life will be held at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course in Mission Viejo on Sunday, July 31 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Buddy’s name to the American Cancer Society, located at 1940 E. Deere Ave., Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705.