There are condolences waiting approval on Ernest's Tribute wall
Celebrating the life of Ernest S. Bins
Be the first to share your favorite memory, photo or story of
Ernest.
This memorial page is dedicated for family, friends and future generations to celebrate
the life of their loved one.
We ask on behalf of the family that you keep your comments uplifting and appropriate
to help all who come here to find comfort and healing.
Obituary for Ernest S. Bins
In loving memory of Ernest “Ernie” Bins who passed away on May 13, 2018 at the age of 81. Born Ernest Sherman Bins and the only child of Donald and Evalene Bins in Beardstown, Illinois, he was raised on the family’s farm in Bluff Springs, Illinois by his father, step-mother Audrey Fair-Bins and step-brother William Carls. Ernie had a knack for engine mechanics and was known to have fast cars and was a fast driver in his youth – according to one of his childhood friends, Mike Long. That passion for engines and speed steered him toward a career in the military and he joined the Air Force at the early age of 17 where he eventually became a Flight Engineer. He spoke of “cutting his teeth” on C-130’s but spent most of his military career flying on C-141’s. Stationed at Plattsburg Air Force Base in New York State, Ernie met the love of his life in Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Curtis whom he married in 1957. Ernie and Betty started their family in New York with the birth of three of their four children at Plattsburg Air Force Base before being transferred to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington where their fourth child was born. A few years afterward, Ernie was transferred to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California where he spent the rest of his 21 total years of military service before retiring in 1976. Ernie spent the following few years honing his mechanical skills and knowledge through courses at the local college while working as a mechanic at Dixon Tractor Company specializing in hydraulics. His experience and education led him to a 15 year career with ExxonMobile as a hydraulics mechanic and specialist on oil platforms and ships in the Santa Barbara Channel in Southern California. In 1991, and while working a seven days on, seven days off schedule with ExxonMobile he and Betty moved back to Beardstown, Illinois to help care for his step-mother Audrey. Ernie and Betty had a beautiful home built in nearby Jacksonville, Illinois where they spent several years before Ernie retired from ExxonMobile and eventually moved back West to be closer to their children and grandchildren. He and Betty built another home in Carson City, Nevada where they spent the next 17 years before ending up back in Fairfield, California. Ernie happened to be a better mechanic and handyman than golfer or fisherman but loved to spend time on the course or water golfing or fishing with either Betty’s relatives in Illinois or his son’s in California. His love for flying led him to volunteer work as a docent on a B-17 aircraft named the Aluminum Overcast where he traveled around the United States with the aircrafts crew attending air shows and explaining the aircrafts history and attributes to passengers and/or air show attendees. In addition to flying, Ernie loved the outdoors and spent much of his time in and around Carson City with his beloved dog Bodie while working as a volunteer with the California Department of Forestry. He mostly shuttled firefighters to various locations during the fire season in the Eastern Sierras but also helped out with administrative procedures. Ernie was a wonderful father, friend, mentor to many and husband of 61 years to his loving wife Betty who had also recently passed away. He is survived by three of his four children, Brenda, Bryan and Brice Bins; seven Grandchildren, Zackary Onisko, Matthew and Jessica Huffman, Isabella, Jonathan, Miranda and Carter Bins; and three Greatgrandchildren Riley Huffman, Madalina (Madi) and Calista (Cali) Onisko. Ernie will be interned at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on June 25, 2018 at 11:00 am with a private family reception to follow.
