Dr. Kenneth E. Beach

DR. KENNETH BEACH

JERSEYVILLE — Dr. Kenneth E. Beach, 86, died at 4:24 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, in the intensive care unit at St. Anthony's Hospital in Alton.

He was born on Nov. 27, 1927, in Jerseyville, the fifth of six children born of the late Froman and Helen (Hunter) Beach.

In June 1944, as a junior at Jersey Community High School, he was accepted into an accelerated program at the University of Illinois as a pre-dental student. He completed his pre-dental education in 15 months and entered the University of Illinois School of Dentistry in the autumn of 1945, receiving a B.S. Degree in 1947. He graduated from dental school in 1949, at the age of 21.

On Dec. 20, 1947, he married Dorothy Heath at the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville. Their love affair remained for 61 years until her death on May 17, 2009.

In 1948, he was one of 100 senior dental students commissioned in the armed services. He joined the U.S. Navy as an ensign. In 1949, after graduation and successful completion of his state dental boards, he was promoted to Lieutenant JG serving in Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C. for six months and San Diego Naval Hospital until August 1951. At that time, he received orders and shipped out on Sept. 3, as one of two dental officers on the USS Des Moines, then a part of the sixth fleet.

He resigned his commission on June 1, 1952, and began his private practice in Normandy, Mo. In 1955, he moved his practice and his family to Jerseyville, where he practiced until 1989.

With the founding of the Southern Illinois School of Dental Medicine in Alton, he became a member of the faculty, being named Dean Emeritus in 1989. He continued teaching at the Dental School until just two years ago.

His practice of dentistry took him on numerous international mission trips to Zaire (Congo), Haiti, Jamaica and the Amazon basin of Brazil.

In 1976, he earned a master's of science degree from Southern Illinois University in biochemistry. His other honors include, Associate Dean SIU-SDM, member of the General Board of the American Baptist Convention, Fellow of Academy of General Dentistry, 1981, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, 1983, Paul Harris Fellow-Rotary International, 1988.

Kenneth was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville, where he served as Sunday school teacher and a lay leader. He was active in both local and international missions. He served on the Jerseyville City Council during the time the current water system was constructed. He led the effort to fluoridate the city's water, resulting in a general improvement in the quality of oral health for the city.

He was active in Rotary International. Because of his fluency in French, he had the honor of serving as a group leader for a Rotary International Group Study Exchange team from Central Illinois to France in 1996.

He was a devoted husband, father and a friend to many. He loved his life and lived it to the fullest measure.

He is survived by his daughters, Susan Beach of Jerseyville, Cynthia Driesner and her husband, Arnold of Edwardsville; a son and daughter-in-law, David and Gail Beach of Chappell Hill, Texas.; 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Alicia and Matt Turner of Jefferson City, Mo., Nathan and Tricia Embley of Houston, Texas, Patrick and Kelli Embley of Graymont, Julia and Kevin Tompkins of Chesterfield, Mo., Natalie and Mike Thiems of Edwardsville, Shannon Beach of Chappell Hill, Texas, Laura Beach of Bogota, Colombia, Tracey Beach of St. Louis, Timothy and Megan Beach of Nichols Hills, Okla., and Daniel Beach of Butte, Mont.; 13 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Helen Alderson of Tampa, Fla., Demetra Cherry of Winchester, Donna Ree Bullock of Gastonia, N.C.

In addition to his parents, and his beloved wife, Dorothy, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Marion and Thornton Beach.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville with the Rev. Brent Meyers, Rev. Clay Noah, alongside his grandson, Rev. Patrick Embley.

Burial will take place at the Grimes-Neeley Cemetery in Jerseyville, with military graveside rites conducted by the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492.

Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of Jerseyville or the SIU-School of Dental Medicine Jamaica clinic.