Carl Ben Bidewell

Carl Ben Bidewell, 87, a prominent retired businessman of Poplar Bluff died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 at his residence.
Mr. Bidewell was born July 20, 1922 in Marble Hill. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Poplar Bluff. After graduating from high school he attended Southeast Missouri State University, and then served as a patrol-bomber pilot with the U. S. Naval Air Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, Mr. Bidewell enrolled at the University of Missoui at Columbia where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1948. For the next two years he coached basketball and baseball at Poplar Bluff High School before leaving to open a sporting goods store in downtown Poplar Bluff from 1950 to 1967. He then became a stockbroker and investment advisor, a status he retained well past retirement age. Mr. Bidewell was instrumental in gaining voter approval for formation of Three Rivers Community College and served on the college's first Board of Trustees from 1966 to 1972. In 2003 TRCC opened the college's new physical fitness center named for Ben and Martha Bidewell whose donation helped equip the facility. Mr. Bidewell was a former member of the advisory board for the Bootheel Education Center, a facility operated jointly in Malden by TRCC and Southeast Missouri State University; former director of the old Bank of Poplar Bluff as well as the Bank of Marble Hill; former president of the Board of Regents of Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau; and past president and founder of the P.B. Optimists Club.
On March 27, 1948 he married Martha Mitchell in Malden. She survives.
Other survivors include three children, Bob Bidewell of North Little Rock, Ark., Leigh Bidewell of Little Rock, Ark. and Jim Bidewell and wife Marian of Portageville; three grandchildren, Aaron Bidewell of Kennett and Jorden Bidewell and Mallory Bidewell both of Portageville; two brothers, Ivan Bidewell of Albuquerque, NM and Len Bidewell of Lakeland, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; and a host of close family friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents George Washington and Jane (Crites) Bidewell and two brothers Cletus Bidewell and Henry Bidewell.
The family would like to thank the caring folks of Preferred Hospice for their assistance in making Ben's life so comfortable during the past few weeks.
A gathering of family, friends and acquaintances will begin at noon Wednesday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. A celebration of life memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. in the Chapel with the Rev. Charles Buck and the Rev. Jim Hoyt officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Three Rivers Community College Foundation or First United Methodist Church Music Ministry, c/o Cotrell Funeral Service, P.O. Box 548, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902.