Robert Morgan Dean, age 86, passed peacefully on February 21, 2024, at Advent Health in Apopka, FL. Bob was born in Middlebury on April 25, 1937. He was the son of Robert Perry and Ella (Morgan) Dean.
Bob grew up on the family farm in Brandon, Vermont. His early life on the farm was one of hard work and many experiences. He loved to tell stories about driving trucks at an early age, fishing with dynamite, and jumping from a silo in his early years. He left the farm as a teenager to join the Marines, where he commanded an amphibious landing craft. After traveling the world, he decided to leave the Marines (one of his stories he shared with anyone was about junk on the bunk.) He joined the Air Force, where he excelled in electronics as an aircraft aviation technician. He served at multiple bases in the USAF, including opening one in the jungles of Vietnam. During his time in the Air Force, he also excelled in marksmanship and won numerous awards for his skill.
Bob was one of the very earliest members of the Finchingfield Gun Club in North Essex, England, as a US airman based at Wethersfield, England. The championship trophy was donated by Bob. The championship continues to be competed annually via the handicap system and was named the Bob Dean Trophy.
Bob was also selected to referee the 1970 ISSF World Shooting Championship, which was held in Phoenix, Arizona. After retiring from the USAF, Bob went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree from Castleton College. Bob then pursued a career working at the Brandon Post Office. His customer service was well known. He had treats for all the dogs on his route, stopped a barn fire, gave haircuts to housebound folks, and other items too numerous to mention. He was everyone’s favorite mailman.
His hobbies included flying (he owned his own plane) and photography. Bob worked with others to support the annual kids ACE camp to introduce them to aviation and flying. He took many kids up for their first ride in an airplane. He was always happy when he was talking or flying with other pilots that he knew. Bob is renowned around Central Vermont for his photography, his specialty combined both hobbies–taking arial photos, which he provided to many free of charge. The family has thousands of pictures he took over the years.
Folks that have traveled with Bob, will tell you that he hardly ever went anywhere where he didn’t meet an old friend or acquaintance. He could be at a luau in Honolulu or sitting in a restaurant in Florida, and someone would walk up and say, “I know you.” Truly there has never been someone so well known and loved.
He is survived by two daughters, Debra (Albert) Fowler of Zellwood, FL and Diane (Todd) Douglas of Sudbury; a brother, Gary W (Carol) Dean of Colchester, and a sister. Nancy (Charles) Jakiela of Brandon. His grandsons, Robert William (Joanna) Fowler, Eric S. Douglas (Heidi), and Dean M. Douglas (Emily), and a great-granddaughter, Ashton Elizabeth Fowler. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Cecilia Ann Dean, whom he married on May 28, 1960, in Beloit, Kansas. He was also predeceased by his parents and a brother, David A. Dean.
Friends may call at the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon on Friday, March 1, 2024, from 12 noon until 3 PM. Following the calling hours, the family will receive friends at Brandon American Legion from 4 to 6 PM for a time of remembrance.
The graveside committal service and burial, with Military Honors, will take place at a later date in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph.
Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in his memory to VAAC c/o Alisdar Crawford, 190 Drumlin Road, Perkinsville, VT 05151. Checks should be made to ACE Camp in honor of Bob, for aviation camp for students ages 14 to 18. A brick will be donated by his daughters, with his name on it, at the Marine Corps Museum.
Arrangements by Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon.
