Alan Bedford

Alan Bedford, 90, of Mishawaka, IN passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at Tanglewood Trace, Mishawaka, IN.  He was born on August 19, 1926 in Nelson, Lancashire, England to the late Percival and Margaret (Bailey) Bedford.  On September 16, 1978, in South Bend, he married Anita (Nyikos) Donoho.

Alan is survived by his daughter, Rosalind Ann (John) Churn of London, England; his son, Philip Bedford of Belfast, Northern Ireland; three stepchildren, Mark (Peggy) Donoho of North Liberty, Michael (Lynne) Donoho of South Bend and Becky Starzynski of South Bend; seven grandchildren, Mark Wayne Donoho of Mishawaka, IN, Tracy Sopher (Dave) Gee of Plymouth, Scott (Lisa)  Donoho of Simi Valley, CA, Kerry (John) Leader of Mishawaka, Eric (Jennifer) Donoho of Carmel, IN, Amy Starzynski (Zachary) Coddens of Bloomington, IN and Anthony (AJ) Starzynski of South Bend; nine great grandchildren, Britney Sopher, Kennedy Sopher, Lexi Leader, Jake Leader, Benjamin Leader, Eleanor Coddens, Emma Coddens, Kayleigh Donoho, Byron Donoho; two step grandchildren, Cara Gee, Caylee Gee and one step great great grandchild, Emma Thompson.  He is preceded in death by his first wife, Rose (Gauden) Bedford in 1977, his second wife, Anita (Donoho) Bedford on April 13, 2016 and his parents, Percival and Margaret Bedford.

Alan served in the British Army during WWII as a Private.  He graduated from Queen Mary College, London, England in 1947.  Alan came to the United States in 1966 to work for Bendix Aerospace Systems Division in Ann Arbor, MI.  He later transferred to Bendix in Mishawaka, IN as an Aerospace Engineer testing brakes for 707 jets and designing missiles for NASA. He was part of the team on the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).  Alan became a Citizen of the United States in 1982,  He liked running in the Sunburst 5K Run and the Princess City 5K Run, his latest run being at the age of 70, running with his granddaughter, Kerry Leader.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Center for Hospice for the wonderful care they gave to Alan and for the outreach and support they gave his family.  And a special thank you to Tanglewood Trace Assisted Living Center, Mishawaka, IN for their daily love and care for Alan and the generous hospitality extended to his family. 

There will be no visitation or funeral service as requested by Alan. There will be a private burial at Riverview Cemetery, South Bend.  Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel is assisting the family.  Memorial contributions may be given to the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com

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