Tributes

BEARD Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Lonnie "Papaw" Beard passed away in his sleep on Sunday May 8, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born February 4, 1920 in Louisville, Mississippi, grew up in Columbus, Mississippi and settled near Sacramento, California in 1961. He had been in San Antonio for the past three years under the care of his daughter Betty and husband Craig Reuter. Lonnie was a three war veteran, serving in WWII, the Korean War, and two tours in Vietnam for a total of 32 years in the Army and Air Force, retiring in 1972. He was involved with the Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club in California and served a term as president. Lonnie was one of the founding members and provided long term leadership of Senior Gleaners, an organization tasked with feeding needy seniors and others in the Sacramento area. Then, he was appointed to the board of directors of the California Commission on Aging by three different governors. He was also a member of the Air Force Security Police Association. Lonnie gave of himself to his country, his community and his family. He will be remembered for his tenacity and professionalism at work, his caring and empathy for others in his volunteer work, his wisdom and love when interacting with family, and his care free attitude when he played. He loved to fish and collect gadgets of all sorts. Lonnie was always generous and had a positive attitude when dealing with any issue. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eloise, who he married in 1941, his daughter Joyce, and his son Lonnie. He is survived by his daughter Betty and her husband Craig Reuter of San Antonio, daughter Bonita and her husband John Davis of Folsom, California and his son's surviving wife Judy Beard of Citrus Heights, California. He is also survived by grandchildren Dean and Scott Reuter, Joyce, Jennifer and Jason Davis, Amy Hennings, with great grandchildren Robyn Reuter, Marley Davis and Malia Hennings, a cousin Henry "Pump" Beard and nephews Neil, Wayne, Lonnie and Bobby Beard and Eugene Carson, nieces Carol Ann Stafford and Christine Calloway and then grand nephews/niece Jerry Wayne Beard, Todd Glusenkamp, Karen Sullivan and all their extended families. He will be missed by all who knew him. We cannot express our respect and gratitude enough for the wonderful care provided by Hospice Compassus over the past three months and would encourage donations to them in lieu of any gifts or flowers at 4204 Woodcock Dr. San Antonio, TX 78228. Betty and Craig will open their home on Saturday May 14, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm for visitors and a memorial, and similarly, Bonita and John will have a memorial at their home in Folsom on June 4, 2011. You may sign the on-line guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section. MISSION PARK NORTH 3401 CHERRY RIDGE SAN ANTONIO TX 78230 210 349-1414

Tributes

Lonnie Iron Beard

February 4, 1920 - May 8, 2011