L. G. Beard

Mr. L.G. Beard L. G. Beard, honored WWII veteran and resident of the Claremore Veterans Center, went home to his Lord on Friday, June 14, after complications from a brief bout with pneumonia. He was 93. A service celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, June 22 at First Baptist Church, Dewey, OK. Open visitation at Stumpff’s. L. G. was born October 25, 1919, in Sapulpa, OK, the fourth of 5 children born to William Basil and Susie Barnett Beard. The family moved to Coweta, OK and L. G. graduated from Coweta High School. L. G. joined the National Guard, then enlisted in the Army in 1941 when the war broke out. It was his Army service L. G. was most proud of, serving 511 days of combat in North Africa and Italy. Just before shipping out, L. G. met a young girl, really by accident, whose name was Ruth Lloyd. They began writing to each other and fell in love through the letters. As soon as L. G. returned home in June, 1945, he married his sweetheart on August 26, 1945, and the newlyweds settled in Oklahoma City, where L. G. began employment in the printing business. L. G. and Ruth had 4 children: Mike, Pat, Rabecca, and Larry. In 1959 the Beards moved to Dewey, OK to get away from the “big city”. All the Beard children graduated from Dewey High School. L. G.’s last working days in the printing business were at Central States Printing in Dewey, where he was a bindery foreman. He retired at age 67, but his working days weren’t over. He had begun at the Examiner Enterprise in 1964, becoming circulation manager in Dewey for both the Enterprise and Tulsa World, hiring/training carriers, and continued after retirement. Later he serviced all the racks, store racks, and counter pickups in Dewey, and in the process made many friends. L. G. loved people and was at his happiest around them and family. He lost his best friend and wife of 56 years in 2001 to illness. L. G. loved sports, playing fast pitch softball, and later, slow-pitch until the legs gave out almost into his 60’s. And he coached baseball and softball for his kids, his company, and his church. He was a Sooner fan, and a fan of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, Johnny Unitas and the old Baltimore Colts, and Mickey Mantle and the old Yankees. He loved music and sang in the church choirs into his 80’s. L. G. trusted Christ as Savior as a young man, and he and Ruth raised their family in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” He was faithful to always attend church, being selected as a deacon, and taught Sunday School for many years. He demonstrated faithfulness, and strong work ethic, and a great and abiding sense of humor. The “Dewey Hunk” will be missed, but it is comforting to know he has been re-united with his Ruthie, and, more importantly, at home with his Lord. L. G. is survived by: Mike Beard and wife Joyce of Fort Worth, TX; Pat Beard and wife Martha of Lawrence KS; Rabecca Oswald and husband John of Double Oak, TX; and Larry Beard and wife Kathy of Bartlesville; six grandchildren: Jennifer Beard, Tony Beard of Fort Worth; Chris Beard, Ben Beard of Lawrence, KS; Jeremy Oswald of Lewisville, TX, Jenna Oswald of Kennedale, TX; and seven great grandchildren: Ashley Engelhart, Brylan Beard, Cohen Beard of Fort Worth, TX; Mae Beard of Lawrence, KS; and Kalli Anderson, Kellen Oswald, Talon Oswald of Lewisville, TX. PDF Printable Version

L. G. Beard

October 25, 1919 - June 14, 2013