Raymond F. Beck

Friday, March 2, 2007

Nov. 4, 1918-March 1, 2007

Raymond F. Beck, 88, Bainbridge, died Thursday.

He was the son of Fred and Jenny Ola Beck.

A 1936 graduate of Bainbridge High School, he graduated from Central Normal College in 1942 and Notre Dame Midshipman's School in 1943. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He joined the Indiana National Guard in 1949, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1964. Prior to World War II, he taught school at Floyd Center, Groveland and Barnard. In September 1946 he took a teaching position at Shelbyville, where he taught until retiring in 1980. He taught sixth grade at Hendricks Elementary School and mathematics at Shelbyville Senior High School, and served four years as high school athletic director.

After retirement, he moved back to the family farm in Floyd Township of Putnam County where he raised hereford cattle.

He was an active member of Brick Chapel United Methodist Church, and prior to retirement had been a member of First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. he was a member of Elks Lodge 457, serving as exalted ruler in 1968, and he was a member of the Military Retired Officers Association, Amer-ican Legion, Bainbridge High School Alumni Association and the Indiana State Teachers Association.

He married Lorna Thomas on Jan. 30, 1943. She survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Pamela Danner and husband David, McLean, Va., and Jann Beck, Bainbridge; a son, Thomas Beck and wife Anne DePrez, Estes Park, Colo. and Shelbyville; sister Marie Oliver, Bean Blossom; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by brother Clarence Beck and sister Helen Noll.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Brick Chapel Church, Greencastle, with Pastors Paul Taylor and Tim Matthews officiating.

Burial with military rites will follow in Brick Chapel Cemetery.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencas-tle.