John R. Beck

John R. Beck, of Watsontown, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 23, 2024 on his 96th birthday at Williamsport South Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Born August 23, 1928 in Delaware Twp., Northumberland Co., he was the son of the late Norman P. and Mary Ellen Beck.  In June 1955 he married the former Thelma E. Crawford. She preceded him in death in 1987.

He enlisted into the US Army, after basic training he attended 8 weeks of Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, VA.  Later he joined up with heavy construction army engineer.  After all of his training he was sent to England for four years to help reconstruct runways.  He also served for six months in Thule, Greenland, where they started to build the first runway on the ice cap.  John then went on to serve three years in Germany, one year in Korea, and one year in Vietnam where he was a Battalion Operation Sargent.  He retired from the military after 20 years of service on August 31, 1969.

Following his military retirement, he returned to Delaware Twp., and worked as an equipment operator for Middlecreek Construction of Winfield.  He then moved to Fayetteville, NC to be near the military hospital at Fort Bragg and while in NC, he worked as a construction supervisor.  After his wife passed away in August 1987, John moved back to Watsontown.

He was a life member of the Turbotville VFW Muffley-Huff Post 8206 and of the Watsontown American Legion Post 323.  John was a captain of the VFW Color Guard and helped with military graveside services from 1994 to 2019.

He and his companion Jean L. Fleeger have traveled all over the country through the years until her passing on February 25, 2020.

Surviving is his brother, Max Beck of Watsontown, and numerous nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his six sisters: Hazel Willett, Ruth Dentler, Jane Zarr, Helen Byers, Geraldine Haines, and Nancy Kilgus; and two brothers: Charles Beck and Elmer Beck, who was KIA in Germany during WWII.

There will be a visitation held from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday, August 27 at St. John’s Lutheran “Delaware Run” Church, 6590 Musser Lane, Watsontown, and also from 10 to 11:00 AM Wednesday August 28 at the church where the funeral will be held at 11:00 AM.  Burial with full military honors will follow in Delaware Run Cemetery.

To share a memory or condolence with the family, please visit www.wfbrooksfuneralhome.com

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