Jesse Leo Bedwell 83, of Indianapolis, passed away November 22, 2012. He was born in Shelburn, IN to the late Dorothy (Hauger) and Jesse Bedwell. He was a retired teacher and coach. He was a graduate of Indiana University and Indiana State University.
He was a Marine Corp veteran of WW II serving in China and receiving the Bronze Star for valor. He was also a veteran of the Korean War.
He worked at the Indiana Pacers rookie camp with Bobby Leonard when the Pacers were in the ABA. He also worked at the Boston Celtics summer camp. In 1984 Jesse was the head coach when Southern Aroostook Community H.S. won the State of Maine Boys Basketball Championship. From 1985 to 1989 he was the head basketball coach of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Jesse held one of the oldest Professional Association of Diving Instructors PADI certifications in the USA. He was the manager of Sunset Park and SCUBA diving camp in Linton, IN from 1990 to 2009.
He was the author of a novel, Orphan's of the Orient, later re-titled China Marine based on his life.
He is survived by children: Sharon Cripe, Amos Bedwell and Jay Bedwell, sister, Rosemary Terstegge, brother, Jack Bedwell, four grandchildren, extended family Rod and Jenny Page and their five children and cousins, nieces and nephews he helped raise.
Visitation will be Monday, November 26, 2012 for 10 am till Noon at Flanner and Buchanan – Speedway. Graveside service will be at 3 pm, Monday, November 26, 2012 at Little Flock Cemetery, Shelburn, IN.
You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story.
Sincerely,
-Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan