Millicent Marcia "Millie" Beck

Beck, Millicent Marcia "Millie" 88 Sept. 09, 1923 Nov. 09, 2011 Millie Beck, beloved aunt, grandaunt and great-grandaunt, died peacefully with family at her side. She was born to E. Marcia Fitch and Paul David Beck, Sr. in La Grande, and moved to Portland at 21 months. Millie graduated from Grant High in 1941 and was an aircraft riveter at Columbia Aircraft from 1942-1944. She served in the Women's Army Corps from 1944-45 and graduated in 1950 from Stanford University, on the GI Bill, with a degree in psychology. She spent one year at UC-Berkeley fulfilling pre-nursing requirements and completed one year of UC-San Francisco's 2.5 year nursing program. She worked for 33 years for Industrial Indemnity Company in San Francisco and was active in CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) in the 1960's. She retired to Salem in 1989. Millie was a lifelong member of the American Humanist Association and was active for many years in the Humanist Association of Salem. She was passionate about animals and supported the San Francisco Zoo and other animal care organizations. She was also a dedicated conservationist and an ardent supporter of KWAX, the 24-hour classical music station in Eugene. She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her brother, Paul David Beck, Jr. She is survived by her nieces, Lorraine (John) Hafer, Marianne (Chris) Bloom, and nephew David (Peggie) Beck. She has five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. We are grateful for the wonderful care Millie received as a resident in Assisted Living at Lancaster Village. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. in Anderson Rooms A and B at the Salem Public Library.