John Beyrau

John A. Beyrau

John A. Beyrau, devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, departed this life at The Summit Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lynchburg on Aug. 28, 2010.

He joins now the love of his life - his wife Ellen, who died in 2002 just a few months after their 60th wedding anniversary. Together they raised seven children - six girls and a boy! He is the patriarch of a family that has grown to 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren (and counting) in occupations that include medicine, education, ministry, engineering and law - the legacy of their love and faith.

Mr. Beyrau was born in Syracuse, N.Y. and raised during the Depression in a family short on money but long on hope and prayers. His brother and lone sibling, Leonard, preceded him in death. Mr. Beyrau attended Syracuse University and served in the Army, in the Pacific, during World War II. He worked for Aerofin Corp. and moved with his family to Lynchburg when the company relocated in 1966. He retired from Aerofin as a corporate vice president in 1984. In later years, he was devoted to the care of his wife, who lived with Alzheimer's for the last 15 years of her life.

Mr. Beyrau was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Colonial Hills Golf Club in Forest. He also enjoyed horse racing, playing cards and bowling, and appreciated a well-made martini. His family delighted in his signature sense of humor that he kept until the end.

Faith and family defined him. A long-time member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, he made sure his family went to Mass on Sundays and instilled in his children a commitment to God and each other. He provided for his family's needs and paid his own way in life. In later years, especially, he liked nothing better than to take as many family members as possible to dinner, sit at the head of the table and raise his glass to all who were there.

Mr. Beyrau is survived by his children, Sister Patricia Beyrau of Chepnyal, Kenya; Mrs. Marbeth (Carl) Mielnicki of Fort Myers, Fla.; Mrs. Mary (John) Schalk and Anne Miller of Syracuse, N.Y.; Mrs. Jackie (David) Hofmann and Mrs. Caroline (Cliff) Glickman of Lynchburg; and his only son, John Beyrau and his wife Kathleen of Indianapolis, Ind.; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Summit Town Square, and especially William Robinson and Wanda Romero, for their continued attentive and tender care.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Whitten Timberlake Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church by the Father Richard Mooney. Interment will follow in Virginia Memorial Park, Forest with military honors presented by American Legion Post 16. A reception will be held at St. Thomas More following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.whittenfuneralhome.com.

Whitten Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Timberlake Chapel is serving the family.