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 Goddard
Frederick Beck, "Goddie," of 1064 Wheatland Avenue, passed away on
Monday, September 26, 2011 in Lancaster, at the age of 94. He was
born on August 27, 1917 in Columbia, PA, the son of William Dunbar
Beck and Elizabeth Goddard Beck - also the grandson of Hugh
Goddard, Elizabeth Goddard, Peter Reilly Beck and Julia Dunbar
Beck. He was preceded in death by twin brothers, William D.
(1913) and Gerald P. (1969), and by his loving wife of 66 years,
Dorothy Schickling Beck (2007).
Goddie was a proud graduate of Columbia High
School, class of 1935, where he excelled in football and
basketball. He enjoyed 75 years of reunions with his Crimson Tide
classmates. He also played semi-pro basketball with the Columbia
Merchants. In 1981 he was elected to the
 Susquehanna
Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, where
he remained a member and supporter.
During World War II he served in the Navy, aboard
the destroyer USS Champlin (DD-601) and later became a member
of the ship's reunion group. The Pennsylvania House of
Representatives awarded him a service medal in 2006, commemorating
the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. In addition, he was a
member of American Legion Post #34 for 54 years.
For 47 years he worked in various positions,
including management, at the Armstrong Closure Plant and Kerr
Packaging, retiring in 1982. He was especially proud of being
a skilled lithographer at Armstrong.
Goddie had many interests and hobbies,
including a lifelong fascination with railroads. He owned
an extensive collection of model trains. Over the years he
devoted a lot of time to household projects, including the
restoration of various family properties and also cottages on the
Susquehanna and Conestoga Rivers, where he enjoyed boating.
He is survived by his seven children: Goddard,
Jr. and his wife Willanne of Seattle, WA; Suzanne and her husband
Keith Hoke of New Cumberland, PA; Kathleen, Francine and her
husband Tom Moyer, and Stephen, all of Lancaster; Thomas and his
wife Lorraine and Michael and his wife Connie, both of
Landisville.
He was a loving and devoted Grandfather to Nathan
Beck of Snohomish, WA; Evan Beck of Sultan, WA; Megan and her
husband Kevin Cuff of Andover, MA; Molly Hoke, Ph.D. of Princeton,
NJ; Jonathan McMillan and his wife Alison of Marlton, NJ; Jillian
and her husband Kyle Almoney of Millersville; Patrick, Sarah and
Kendall Beck of Lancaster; John Beck of Landisville, and
Great-grandfather to Hannah Cuff of Andover, MA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 558 West Walnut Street,
Lancaster (where Goddie was a long-time member) on October 15th
at 11:00 AM, with Reverend Michael E. Messner officiating.
Interment, with military honors, will follow at Holy Trinity
Cemetery in Columbia, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to his life can
be given to Sacred Heart Church, Columbia High School Athletics
(200 North 5th Street, Columbia, PA, 17512) or a charity of your
choice. To send the family online condolences, please visit
SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory
717-393-9661 |
