|
SM3 Gerald Beach
|
 |
|
Picture of Gerald on the
USS Waddell with Hong Kong in the background. |
|
Biography for Gerald Royce Beach
Gerald Royce
Beach died Friday, September 17, 2004 in Hugo, Oklahoma. He was 54 years
old. Gerald was born on October 25, 1949 in Antlers, Oklahoma to W.J. and
Ernestine (Horn) Beach. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to
1972 aboard his beloved ship, the USS Waddell. He will be missed by all
that knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his father, W.J. Beach
in 1980.
He is survived
by: One daughter, Amber Prentice and husband, Jim of Auburn, Washington:
one grandchild, Logan James Prentice of Auburn, Washington: his mother,
Ernestine (Horn) Jeffrey and step-father, Mack Jeffrey of Hugo, Oklahoma:
four brothers, Glen Beach and wife, Lorene of Eufala, Oklahoma, Jimmy
Beach and wife, Valarie of Hugo, Oklahoma, Larry Beach and wife, Betsy and
Dennis Beach and wife, Debbie all of Ft. Pierce, Florida: three sisters,
Sherrie Blaker and husband, Rickey of Carrollton, Texas, Carol Moore and
husband, Larry of Hugo, Oklahoma, and Joyce Harless and husband, Barney of
Soper, Oklahoma.
|
|
Eulogy For Gerald Royce Beach
By
Dennis Beach
September 21, 2004
Our family
thought it would be a respectful tribute to Gerald if we shared some of our
experiences and memories of him.
Those of you
who knew Gerald discovered immediately his love of sports; football,
baseball, basketball, soccer, or even championship basket weaving if it
involved competition and a big screen TV.
What was not
immediately obvious, except to family was his love for all of us. That love
was generated by the tremendous affection all of our brothers and sisters
share with each other. That love flows from our mother and is the greatest
single gift any of us has ever received.
Another thing
you may not know is that Gerald did not like funerals. I heard him on many
occasions express that opinion. In fact, I am convinced that if he were not
the guest of honor, he would not be here today.
I remember a
boy who was intelligent, ambitious, full of humor and a wonderful athlete.
I remember a man who would give his car to another person in need. He did
that more than once. Even in his struggles with his own demons he would
find ways to provide for those with less than he had.
He was very
serious about family card games and provided endless entertainment harassing
our brother-in-law Larry Moore.
On behalf of
our family I will tell you how much we love Gerald, it is unnecessary to
tell him, he knows. We pray for eternal peace for him and look forward to
our reunion in the life hereafter.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Gerald's entire family on the
"Mary E Ranch" in Arizona in about 1963 (Gerald's dad and brothers worked on
the ranch). Gerald is on the far right. He loved the ranch and
always wanted to go back to see it but was never able to. |
Gerald's grandson, Logan, who
was born just 2 months before he died. He never got to see him. The shirt
the baby is wearing is an OU jersey that Gerald had bought for him just a
week before he died. He was a tremendous OU fan. (It turned out to be a
doggy shirt which we got a big kick out of. It fit perfectly!). |
|
 |
 |
|
Gerald on the USS Waddell
DDG-24. Date unknown. |
Gerald (left) and shipmate Ken
Bilobran (right).
Hong Kong 1970. |
 |
 |
|
Gerald on the USS Waddell
DDG-24. Date unknown. |
Gerald aboard the Waddell in
the Yokosuka Sea. |
|
 |
|
Gerald (left) and shipmate Ken
Bilobran (right). |
|
