Carolyn Reynolds Beckelheimer

Carolyn Reynolds Beckelheimer died peacefully at her home in Bel Air, MD, on March 28. She was 99.

Born Carolyn Reynolds on July 10, 1926 in Athens, Georgia, she was the only child of Harold Irwin Reynolds and Mary Sims Reynolds. Harold was the University Physician at the University of Georgia and also a beloved town doctor with his own practice. Mary was in poor health and died when Carolyn was 15, but in their time together she instilled a love for books (especially the classics like Treasure Island, Heidi, and the Swiss Family Robinson); a fondness for card games like Bridge and solitaire; and the importance of service - which would be a cornerstone of Carolyn's adult life.

Carolyn's childhood in Athens was idyllic; the town was just starting to grow and they lived in a newly-built community with many other young families. She and the neighborhood children were allowed quite a bit of independence, and spent their free time exploring the woods and playing kick the can, croquet, or baseball throughout the court. Carolyn spent many happy summers on her grandparents' farm in Lexington, Georgia, 20 miles from Athens - then a bucolic town surrounded by farmland. There, too, she was free to roam during the day as long as she returned home for supper, which was followed each night by visits from nearby family members to exchange news of the goings-on in town.

Carolyn graduated from the University of Georgia in 1948 with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts, concentrating in piano. Her father died of leukemia at just 60 the year before, and this experience inspired her to pursue a post-graduate degree in Medical Technology. Though she did not complete the program, she did make the acquaintance of Robert Pearson Beckelheimer ("Beck") - the tall, slender, large-eared, big-grinned TA for one of the required courses, whom she'd go on to marry in 1951. They were married for nearly 59 years until his death in 2009.

Soon after they married, the couple left Georgia for Bel Air, MD, where Beck took a position at the Edgewood Arsenal. Much of the area was undeveloped and newly-built communities were just starting to emerge, reminiscent of her childhood in Athens. Certainly, Carolyn brought the gentle, yet fiercely independent Georgian spirit forged in her youth to Harford County, which was "home" for the rest of her life and where she and Beck raised their three children and instilled in them the same sense of self-sufficiency and affinity for exploration.

In their early days in Harford County, Carolyn and Beck were introduced to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, which became a foundational presence in their lives: the source of deep, cherished friendships and a beloved space in which they (and their children) grew and solidified their faith and shared love of service. Over the years, Carolyn had many roles at the church, including as president of the Women of St. Mary's, a dedicated member of the Altar Guild, and as an occasional organist during services.

Carolyn also gave her time and support generously to the Harford Day School, where her children were among the first classes to graduate after its opening in 1957, and which is now well known as a premier educational institution. She volunteered at the school for many years, well after her children had graduated, and played important roles in the annual Bazaar and Christmas Greens Sale.

When Beck retired, they purchased an RV to seek out their own adventures. When their daughter Ann was living in Alaska, they drove across Canada to the West Coast, stored the camper, and flew there to visit. Other travels took them to state and national parks around the country. In later years, Carolyn and Beck took their grandchildren camping in nearby parks such as Rocky Gap and Cunningham Falls, bestowing yet another generation with respect for earth's natural wonders and an affinity for solitaire (the perfect game for long drives in an RV).

Carolyn was a gifted knitter, seamstress, and pianist, but was primarily known for her remarkable athleticism. She was undoubtedly the best athlete in her family (and also the last person who would say so). She loved tennis, routinely bested all challengers at croquet, and excelled at golf, walking the course at least once a week well into her 90s. Even in recent months, she continued to collect Wii Bowling trophies at the Avondell Retirement Community, where she and Beck were among the first residents in 2008. She remained an active leader there as well, frequently organizing resident contributions for staff holiday bonuses. Over time, she became Avondell's longest-tenured resident and formed another treasured circle of friends.

Though she spent most of her life in Bel Air, Carolyn never let go of her Georgia heritage. She kept her soft Southern accent, her warmth, her love of Coca-Cola, and her loyalty to the University of Georgia Bulldogs. She also embraced a later-in-life allegiance to the Baltimore Orioles and eagerly anticipated the start of each baseball season. She was a devoted wife and mother and a truly phenomenal grandmother - a role that brought her immense joy and seemed to release her inner child, whose eyes twinkled with mischief as she showed off her favorite candy shop and who could wordlessly enthrall her three great-grandchildren with silly facial expressions.

Carolyn is survived by her children Mary Ellen Porter (David) of Glyndon, Maryland; Ann Brady (Bill) of New Hope, Pennsylvania; and Rob Beckelheimer of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren Maggie Geraghty (Patrick), Grace Porter, Riley Brady, and Chrisopher Brady; and great-grandchildren Maeve, Cassidy, and Hart Geraghty. She will be remembered for her generosity, spunk, humor, energy, and the deep affection she held for her family and community. Her life was long, full, and shaped by service, friendship, laughter, and love. She will be dearly missed by all who had the good fortune to know her.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Church in Abingdon, MD, on May 11 at 11:30 a.m. Reception to follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church or Harford Day School.