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Sandra E. Beebe-Thompson
1934 - 2017
BORN
1934
DIED
2017
Sandra Beebe-Thompson Obituary
Sandra E. Beebe-Thompson, of Long Beach, passed peacefully in her sleep at home on Sunday, December 10, 2017.
Miss Beebe, revered English teacher of several generations of Garden Grove High School students. Renowned artist, Life Member of the American Watercolor Society.
Born November 10, 1934 at March Field, CA, daughter of (then 1st Lt USAAC) Eugene Beebe and Margaret Fox Beebe.
A lifelong resident of Long Beach, Sandra came here with her mother in 1943 when her father (by then Col, USAAF and later Brig Gen, USAF) led his command, the 308th Bomber Group, to war in Central China. In 1947, her father retired from the Air Force and her parents bought the house on Mira Mar in Belmont Heights.
She attended St. Matthew's Grammar School, starting 4th grade in the fall of 1943 and graduated from St. Anthony's High School in 1952. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in English in January 1956, where she was a member of the sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and then received an MA in English and a teaching credential from Calif. State, Long Beach in 1957. She started her 37-year teaching career at Garden Grove High School that fall.
Sandra began serious painting in the early 1970s and, by the early 1980s, she had become a well-known watercolor artist exhibiting her paintings at major art shows across the country. She had the pleasure of working with and learning from Frank Webb, Robert Wood, and Gerald Bromer among other prominent water-colorists. In 1994, she was inducted into the American Watercolor Society at its annual exhibition in New York.
In the summer of 1994, she married Donald Thompson, an old friend whom she'd known since they first met as young children at St. Matthew's. She moved with him to Marina Pacifica and then, in 2001 and after her mother had died, she and he moved back into the Mira Mar house.
Funeral service will be held at 11 AM, Thursday, 12/28/17, at St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church, Long Beach, CA, followed by interment at All Souls Cemetery, Long Beach, CA. Please sign the guest book, www.presstelegram.com/obits.
Memories and Condolences
for Sandra Beebe-Thompson
14 Entries
JOHN F THOMPSON JR ATTORNEY AT LAW RETIRED
April 22, 2022
GOD BLESS HER SHE WAS ONE OF MY MOST BEST AND INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS. I WAS QUITE A CUTEUP IN HER CLASS BUT SHE CUT ME SLACK AND LAUGHED WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS BUT IF I PUSHED IT TO FAR OFF TO SEE THE PRINCIPLE TO BE PUNISHED AND IT WAS EDWARD DUNDON ALSO A GOOD TEACHER AND MAN
Jack Sorter
January 18, 2018
I worked with the amazingly talented teacher and artist at Garden Grove High School. We purchased many of her paintings, and Sandra told me we had more of her paintings than anyone else. R.I.P. Sandra.
Annie Horne
December 30, 2017
It can be so hard to face the first year without your loved one, but the love of family and friends can carry you through.
Laurie Hoffman (Graham)
December 28, 2017
Ms. Beebe was one of my all-time favorite teachers. I had her for Honors English, my Jr. year. She taught us all about symbolism: In poetry, advertising, and novels. We read The Scarlet Letter, Moby Dick, and many romantic age poets. She commanded the room by her aire of intelligence. I have often thought of her as I've gone through school. I have often applied what she taught us, throughout my life. She was a gem of a person.
Annie Horne
December 28, 2017
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Dick Tobey
December 26, 2017
A dear lady who believed in me. I always called her on Mother's Day. The painting she gave to us as a wedding present still hangs in our home. She will be missed.
Paul Warner
December 23, 2017
So sorry to hear of Ms. Beebe's passing. I still have fond memories of sitting in her English classes so many years ago (Class of 1970 and approx. 50 years ago). Thanks for making an impression on me.
WALTER VUKCEVICH
December 23, 2017
Dear Don,
My deepest condolences to you. She was ans is such a wonderful person filled with excitement and curiosity. I relished the times you both came into the office.
Dr. Vukcevich
Gene Boose
December 23, 2017
Out of all the teachers I had in GGHS; you were the only one I truly remember and have fond memories of. I learned a lot from you and hope you're at peace. Tremendous loss
Jennifer Jones Weiss
December 22, 2017
I am so sad that I could never track Ms. Beebe down to tell her the impact that she had on my life. I had been actively looking since social media became a thing, even sending letters to Garden Grove High School and her Water Color Association to forward to her. How very, very cool that she married. That makes me so happy. I became an English teacher because of Ms. Beebe. Each year, my students begin with a college admission essay in which they have to identify members of their Board of Directors - people who have positively influenced them. Here is an excerpt from my sample essay:
Another important person on my board of directors is Ms. Beebe, my ninth and eleventh grade English teacher. She called us her "golden class" because we were her students during her 25th year of teaching which happened to be the year she turned 50. She inspired my career choice and still inspires my teaching practices. I think about her all the time when I am teaching and hope that I am living up to her expectations.
I knew Ms. Beebe was going to have an impact on me the first day that I walked into her class. Her room was decorated with a host of unusual things that included mementos from previous students, literary artifacts, and photos of her travels. Her combination of high expectations and personal interaction caused her students to want to perform well, and I was no exception. She was not an easy teacher by any means, but she was a good teacher who knew how to get her students to want to learn, even by unorthodox methods. Ill never forget the day that I walked into class and proudly showed her that a boy had given me his class ring to wear (thats what we did in the 80s to signify we were going out). She promptly took the ring right off of my finger and told me that I could not date that young man until he improved his grade in her class. She was serious. I did not get the ring back until he turned in his late assignments. The personal way that she approached students and their learning helped shape the way that I think about the role teachers can play in the lives of their students. When I pound out poetry rhythms with a hammer, it is because of Ms. Beebe; when I try and make my students care about symbolism, it is because of Ms. Beebe; and when push my students to grow, it is because of Ms. Beebe.
Last year, as I read the sample out loud to my students, and had to sit and catch my breath. I was in my 25th year of teaching and turning 50 this was my golden class. I am devastated today because of my inability to share these things with her while she was still here; however, I am forever grateful for her impact on me, and in turn, on another generation of students. I treasure the water color that she gave me for a wedding gift, and I fervently wish I could be in California next week for her service. My condolences to her husband and family.
Barbara Smith
December 22, 2017
You impacted my life more than you will ever know. My only regret is not staying in touch after I left your classroom. The lessons I learned from you have stayed with me. I will never ever forget you.
D'Hana Davis
December 22, 2017
Both my parents were her students (class of '58) and she was a Guidance Counselor when I went to GGHS in the mid 80's. She touched lots of lives.
Cindy Brandon
December 22, 2017
Oh my Wonderful Miss Beebe can't believe your gone. I had such great times in your class. I loved how you had the books that were banned for us to read. You always were so entertaining. Thanks for all the great times. I will remember you always.
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Funeral service
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St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church
Long Beach, CA
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