Tributes

Harold Grady Beckham was born in San Angelo, Texas, July 3, 1929; son of the late Richard Beckham and the late Clydie Beckham of Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated from Bonham, Texas High School in 1946 where he played in the marching band and orchestra and was elected to the National Honor Society. Harold received BA and MA degrees in Government from The University of North Texas at Denton, Texas where he performed with the concert and marching bands. He served in the U.S. Navy from June 1951 to June 1955, attaining the rating of Aviation Structural Mechanic, Petty Officer Second Class. During the Korean War he served at ALF Ream Field near San Diego, California, and aboard the Aircraft Carrier Princeton, CVS-37 in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four HS-4. He received the China Service Unit Citation Medal for service in evacuation of Nationalist Chinese to Taiwan from the Taechen Islands. Harold also received the National Defense Service Medal. After the Korean War, he entered civil service with the U.S. Air Force serving in several capacities during his career including Position Classification Specialist at Kelly Air Force Base; Chief of Classification at Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Chief of Classification, Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas; and Chief of Classification, Hq. USAF, Washington D.C. He was awarded the Medal for Outstanding Civilian Service to the Department of the Air Force upon retirement in 1985. For some ten years after retirement he was associated with The Container Store in San Antonio. Harold was a member of the San Antonio Wind Symphony. He was a member of The Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp #153 for which he served as chaplain. He was a member of The University Oaks Congregation of The Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Carrie Beckham of San Antonio, Texas the former Marilyn Carrie Fellbaum of Burford, Ontario, Canada; and one daughter, Elise Marie Holman of San Antonio, Texas, one sister-in-law Cynthia Beckham, one brother-in-law Ken Fellbaum and several nieces and one nephew. He had one brother the late James Richard Beckham of Alice, Texas. He was also predeceased by a niece Ruth Ann Grissom. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 22, 2016 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels Stone Oak 23755 US HWY 281 N. S.A., TX. 78258 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A 12:00 p.m. Chapel Service will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels Stone Oak with a brief reception to follow service with interment at Mission Retama.

Tributes

Harold Grady Beckham

July 3, 1929 - August 18, 2016