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J.L. Beam
Burial with full military honors was in the Flint Cemetery directly following the service. Mr. Beam died peacefully with his loving wife at his side in his home Friday evening, Jan. 18, 2008. He was born Oct. 12, 1923 in Teaselville to Abbit Beam and Sarah Connally Beam. He was the sixth of seven children. At 17 years of age, he joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne. During World War II, he jumped inland over Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, jumped over Holland, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, receiving three Presidential Citations. Following the war, he was selected to serve as one of Eisenhower's Honor Guards. Later, he was stationed in Roswell, N.M., where he met and married his wife of 49 years. Retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1963, he moved back to East Texas. His business endeavors included Beam's Meat Market and Beam's Used Cars. A loving and committed family man, he instilled the importance of education and faith into his children. He served as president of the Whitehouse School Board and he taught his children to have servant hearts by serving his family and his country. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Gladys Scritchfield; brothers, John, Commer, Will and Loftin Beam. Survivors include his devoted wife, Freda Beam of Whitehouse; his daughters and sons-in-law, Shirlene and Mark Goodwin of Tyler, Regina and Mal Staples of Spring, and Renee and Thomas Wilson of Nacogdoches; and his five grandchildren, Jeffrey, Christina, Kristin, Kevin and Jace. He is also survived by his sister, Nina Wallace of Chandler. Pallbearers were Jeffrey Staples, James Bruce Beam, Joe Bryant Beam, H.L. Cook, Bob Spradley and Burt Pak. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Gene Tomlin, Troy Clarence, John Lester, Bernie Beam and Commer Beam. The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Neil Adelman and Dr. Andrew Roberts for the compassionate care they extended to our dad during his illness. |
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