Ray E. Beckwith, 86, a longtime resident of Fairhope, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009 in Cape Coral, Fla.
He was born Aug. 16, 1923 in Salineville, Ohio, to Elmer and Olive Snowden Beckwith, and grew up in Cuyahoga Falls.
He graduated from Kent State University in 1949 with a BS in business administration. He was a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army, World War II veteran, a member of the Medina VFW Post 5137, and a member of the Cuyahoga Falls Masonic Lodge Chapter 187.
He retired in 1983 from Ohio Edison as general manager of the real estate department. He was also the owner of Butterspoon Farm for 32 years from 1961 to 1992.
He was the president of American Right of Way Association, member of Akron Area Board of Realtors and was owner and real estate broker of Marbeck Reality in Medina and served as chairman of the Zoning Board in Medina Township.
As an avid singer his membership with barber shop quartet continued when he relocated to Fairhope and his membership of over 40 years with Akron and Elyria Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet singing in America and was a member of Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Margaret Jenkins Beckwith; a son Stephen Beckwith of Medina; two daughters Barbara (Michael) Stacy of Sharon Center and Cape Coral, Fla., and Carol Beckwith (Rob Bartley) of Rocky Hill, Conn.; grandchildren, Jennifer Stacy (Scott) Walker of Cape Coral, Amanda (Michael) Klems of Cincinnati; great-grandchildren, Sarah Rose Klems, Carol Morgan Klems and Kamryn Lynn Walker; sister Joan Wilkinson of Medina, nephews, Terry Lenaburg, David Lenaburg and Eric VonGunten; nieces, Nancy Alden and Valerie Ewing.
Visitation with barber shop quartet was held Thursday, Sept. 10 at Carlson Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Medina.
Masonic services will be held at 10:30 a.m. with funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11at the funeral home with the Rev. Tom Joyce officiating. Interment will follow at Medina Township Cemetery.
The family requests memorial doantions be made to your local hospice or favorite charity.
Arrangements are by Carlson Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Medina, Fla. Online memorials may be made at www.carlsonfuneralhomes.com.
