Obituary of Robert C. Beard

Mr. Robert C. Beard, 92, of 19000 Erie St. Centerville, died unexpectedly Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at the Titusville Area Hospital. Mr. Beard was born on July 15, 1917 at Struthers, OH, a son of the late Herbert and Effie Thoman Beard. He was married to Florence Davis on May 3, 1952 at Hardwick, VT. Mr. Beard was a graduate of Chillicothe High School, Chillicothe, OH; and a graduate of Bliss Electrical School in Washington, D.C. He was employed with AT&T for a short time before being drafted into the US Army. He served five years in the US Army during World War II and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. After the war he returned to work with AT&T in Washington D.C. for 32 years until his retirement. Mr. Beard was owner of Southall Gas in Centerville since 1973. He served as Centerville Boro councilman for one term; was a member of the Bruce Shorts Post No. 5958 VFW; and was a former member of the Colesville, Maryland Presbyterian Church in Silver Spring, MD. Mr. Beard is survived by his wife of Centerville; two children, Gary Beard and Joyce Beard, both of Centerville; a nephew, Robert Southall and companion Jean Huddleson of Centerville; a niece, Susan Robinson of Centerville; two great nieces, Robyn Southall of Canadohta Lake and Kimberly Martin and husband Dr. Wayne Martin of Centerville; and a great great nephew, Dale Southall. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Ernestine Beard; a sister, Bernice McCombs; and a nephew Dale Southall. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and attend the funeral service there on Friday at 11:00 AM with Pastor Gary Kinnear of the Breedtown Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Centerville. The family asks that memorials be made to the charity of one’s choice.