Victor Bearinger

Victor Joseph Bearinger, a resident of Mobile, AL since 1972, passed away on August 27, 2014. A native of Turtle Creek, PA, he was born February 17, the third child of Victor Leander and Edna Marion Laird Bearinger. He served in the U.S. Navy from December 1952 until December 1956 on board the USS Norfolk DL1 and USS Mitscher DL2 and in the U.S. Coast Guard from September 1958 until April 1977, first on the USCGC Taney WHECWPG37 and then at Air Stations in Brooklyn, NY, Elizabeth City, NC, Kodiak, AK, Salem, MA, Traverse City, MI and Mobile, AL where he oversaw Helicopter Icebreaker Support in the PolarOps division. He retired as Master Chief, ADCM, having served honorably for more than two decades. Following his retirement from the USCG, he worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service until 1996, and when he retired for a second time, he had logged over 42 years of service to the U.S. Government. Victor was a communicant of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Mobile and had been a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was active in the USCG Chief Petty Officers Association, Mobile Chapter since 1982 and became a Silver Lifetime Member in 1990. He volunteered at the Little Sisters of the Poor where he was a potato peeler extraordinaire. For years he delighted thousands of Mobiles children and parents as Santa Claus at the Springdale and Bel Air Malls. Known as Papa Bear to many and as Pap to his grandchildren, Victor loved watching baseball games, squaredancing, taking road trips, and spending time with his daughters and their families. He is survived by his daughters Melita Karl Fasold, Sarah Anthony Dangelantonio, Mari Jo Gene Griffith, Beth Chris Morgan and Christina Mark Manganaro. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren who brought much joy into his life, his sister, Sister Melita Bearinger, OPP, dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many longtime friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Betty Bearinger, his parents, and his sister Mary Louise Bearinger Dietz. A Memorial Mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6300 McKenna Dr., Mobile, AL at 10a.m. on September 20, 2014. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held in the church atrium immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to the Chief Petty Officers Captain Calliendo College Assistance Fund, USCG CPOA, 5520G Hempstead Way, Springfield, VA, 221514009 with notation of In Memory of ADCM Vic Bearinger USCG Retired, deceased or to the Old Shell Road Magnet School Library, 3160 Heather Street, Mobile, AL 36607, 2512211557 . Condolences may be offered at www.mmgfuneralhome.com.