Paul W. Beard

1926 - 2014

Paul William Beard, 87, of Westminster, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at home.

Born May 17, 1926, in Westminster, he was the son of the late John Paul William and Anna Marie Engler Beard. He was the husband of Bernice Talbott Beard, his wife of 65 years.

A lifelong resident of Carroll County, he was a 1943 graduate of Westminster High School and attended Western Maryland College.

His entire career was with the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company. He first served as a cable splicer and lineman outdoors. Then he worked in the Central Office in Westminster as central office repairman and long distance technician. He retired in 1986 after 38 years.

He was a conscientious objector during World War II and served from 1944 to 1946 in civilian public service camps for the U.S. Forest Service at Kane, Pa., and Cascade Locks, Ore. He was a forest firefighter and timber cruiser at Cascade Locks.

Through his work with the John Beard genealogy, he found and reunited relatives in Chile and the United States. He traveled extensively with his wife by motor home. He was a past member of the Family Motor Coach Association and of the Holiday Rambler Recreational Club.

He was an active member of the Westminster Church of the Brethren. He designed and installed the sound system in the sanctuary, including amplification for persons needing hearing assistance. He served as deacon and as Wagonmaster of the Church Camping Group.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are son Jeffrey Paul Beard and daughter-in-law Nancy Jean Donelson Beard, of Orlando, Fla.; sisters Hazel Beard Guyer and Elsie Beard Lowry, both of Quincy, Pa.; and a sister-in-law, Pearl Eicher Beard, of Taneytown.

He was predeceased by a brother, Harold Engler Beard.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster; and from 10 a.m. until the time of service, 11 a.m. Friday at Westminster Church of the Brethren, Bond Street and Park Place, Westminster, with his pastor, the Rev. Glenn McCrickard, officiating. Interment will be in Meadow Branch Cemetery following the service.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Westminster Church of the Brethren, 1 Park Place, Westminster, MD 21157.

Online condolences may be offered at www.prittsfuneralhome.com.

Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.