Harry Bingman

Harry Wilburn Bingman, 90, died on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at the Apostolic Christian Home.  He was born on November 4, 1921 the son of Harry and Mae (Heikes) Bingman in the vicinity of Highland, Kansas.  Most of his “growing up” years were spent in that area.  He attended the Highland school system.  After graduating, Harry attended Highland Community Junior College, graduating with an Associate Degree.

Upon completing college Harry volunteered for the Army Air Corp two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  His first assignment led him to Victorville, California where he learned to fly the AT-9 and -17 basic trainers. After receiving his pilot wings, Harry was assigned to flying the B-24D heavy bomber.  Upon graduating from B-24D flight training, he was assigned to the 324 ^th Bomb Squadron, Chengkung, China where his missions entailing bombing Japanese installations on the China coast and flying supplies from Burma over the Himalaya Mountains to China, commonly known as “the Hump”.  After WWII, Harry returned to Casper, Wyoming where he trained pilots in the B-29 heavy bomber.

After his military service he met and married Anna Mae Bockenstette on November 30, 1946.  He joined his father-in-law in the farming business until his retirement.  Also, during that period Harry worked for the US Postal Service for 27 years retiring on February 3, 1984.  He was a member of the NorthRidge Church and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years and three children, Vianna, Phil and Linda.
Vianna Swatek lives in Topeka with her husband, Rob, their two daughters, Mandy Bertholdi and husband, Ryan, and daughter, Sophia also Jerika Henderson, her husband, Tracey and their son Vincent.
Phil lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife, Leslie and they have a son, Dustin and daughter, Kelsie Kathman and her husband, Andrew and their daughter, Charley Anne.
Linda is married to Galen Ackerman and lives in Sabetha, Kansas.  They have three daughters, Shawn Nichols and her husband, Jarrod; Hailey Hall and her husband, Jaron and Kaila Anderson and her husband, Ben and a sister, Alma Marie Higgins from Highland, Kansas, her Husband, Murl and sons, Mike and Jerry Higgins and families.

Funeral services will be Friday, April 13, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. at the NorthRidge Church in Sabetha.  A visitation will be Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the NorthRidge Church in Sabetha.  The interment will be made in the Sabetha Cemetery with military honors.  Memorial contributions may be made to the NorthRidge Church, Sabetha Community Hospital or the Veterans of Foreign Wars sent in care of Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha.