Charles William Beck

Charles William Beck Sr. passed away suddenly Wednesday, April 5, 2017, just a month shy of his 85th birthday. Charles was born an only child in Glen Rose, Texas, May 5, 1932, to Gladys and Harley Beck.He was an only child, but had lots of cousins, aunts and uncles in Glen Rose, where his father ran mule teams, herd dogs, a small store and owned a farm.Later, after they moved from the farm, his father became a ranch foreman in Decatur, Texas, until he retired in Glen Rose.Charles rode horses, and had his own goat herd.He used to reminisce about seeing the movies in town for a nickel and his dad would let him take the car, even though he wasn’t old enough for a driver’s license.Charles laughed about the time his aunt asked him how long it took him to get to town and he said an hour.She said, ”you must have flew!”Town was 16 miles away back then.They didn’t have kindergarten back then sohe started first grade at age 5, and later he skipped the 8th grade because they were consolidating schools and the seventh graders went up to the 9th grade in the high school.He graduated at age 16 from Ferry, Texas.He received a full scholarship at a local college to become a CPA.He started college but talked to a recruiter and enlisted in the Air Force at 17, where he spent 20 years and eight months, traveling all over the world.He received a certificate from President Kennedy for being on the crew of the first in-air fuel fill up. He also served in the Viet Nam War as a jet mechanic. After his retirement from the Air Force, he ran a gas station and towing service in Kingstree, South Carolina. In 1955, Charles married Joyce Thompson from Michigan and they had three daughters.They divorced, and he then married Mary Dell Poston and raised a daughter and son. Charles always liked working on things with his hands.He did a wood carving of a buffalo when he was about nine.He fixed campers after he was retired for the second time.He always loved cars. He enjoyed going to auctions and loved to get good deals.He was usually upbeat and enjoyed people.His favorite cake was pound cake, unfrosted.He liked nuts and was really waiting for his pecan trees to start producing more than 12 pecans a year.He bought a tractor and tried his hand at farming for a while, but it seemed that he always planted the wrong crop!One of his favorite sayings was:”Good Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise.” Charles was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, and daughter Linda.He is survived by 4 children, Barbara Jean Stevens (Walt), Attorney Bonnie Lou Beck-Fries (Chuck), Sharon Lynn Munsell (Jerry) and Charles William Beck Jr.He also leaves behind 14 grandchildren:Michelle Hollis (Chris), Dr. Janey Phelps, Erin Elmore (Danny), Mary McClam (Adam), Walt Stevens II (Denae), Christopher Charles Stevens (Anna), Sean Stevens, Chuck Fries Jr., Jacob Munsell (Dale Ann), Julia Bird (Tim), Joshua Munsell, Emma Jade Beck, Lauren Joye (Jay), Trey Bryan and 14 great grandchildren: Tyler Hollis, Deacon Elmore, Sawyer Elmore, Reese Elmore, Autumn McClam, Lucille McClam, Audrey McGee, Xander Stevens, Sydney Stevens, Lachlan Stevens, Declan Stevens, Timothy Bird, Jr, Bella Bryan and Saylor Joye. Visitation for Mr. Beck will be Sunday night from 4 – 7 pm at funeral home.The funeral Services will take place at Prosser Cemetery on Monday at 2 p.m. Please sign the tribute wall for Mr. Beck at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.