Douglas Beach

Family-Placed Obituary

BEACH, Douglas W., MD Dr. Douglas W. Beach of Bellefontaine, died March 13, 2005 at Mary Rutan Hospital. He was born August 8, 1918 in Springfield, Ohio, the son of the late John N. and Mary E. Timmons Beach. He was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Margaret Timmons Beach; three brothers, John I., John II, Dan Beach; a sister, Mary E. DeWitt Kenney and his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Horn beach. He and Mary Elizabeth Horn were married May 22, 1943 and she passed away February 11, 1982. As physician and nurse they cared for many people in Logan County. He attended St. Bernard's School and graduated from Catholic Central, Springfield, Ohio in 1936. He was educated at St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Indiana and University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois graduating in 1943. After internship and residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Beach served as a Captain with the 231st General Hospital and 8th Field Artillery Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division and in both European and Asiatic Theaters from 1944 to 1946. He began his medical practice in Huntsville, Ohio in 1946 until 1958, when he moved to Bellefontaine and continued solo private until 1975 when he joined the Oakhill Medical Group until July 1981 when he retired from active practice. He married Norma J. Telling on August 20, 1983 and she survives. Dr. Beach was the father of five sons, James D. (Sharon) of Florida, C. Jeffrey (Patricia) of North Carolina, John G. (JoAnn) of Florida, Joseph H. (Ann) of Georgia and Jerry M. (Suzanne of Bellefontaine; stepson, Jeffrey (Crystal) Telling of Illinois and stepdaughter, Brenda Telling of Zanesfield. Also surviving are brothers, William (Margaret) Beach of Springfield, Richard (Marge), Phillip (Mary) both of Dayton, Thomas (Joan) of New York and sisters, Jean Stanley of California, Gera Hempleman of Arizona, Margaret Ann Murray of Dayton; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Beach of Springfield, and brothers-in-law, Charles Horn of Centerville and Joe Horn of Bellefontaine. Fourteen grandchildren survive, Kerrie Anne (Joe) Campanile, Philip D. Beach, Jason D. (Sharon) Beach, Zachary Beach, Molly Beach, Alex (Meg) Beach, Nicholas Beach, Mary E. Beach, Meghan Beach, Jameson Beach, Christine Beach, Allison Beach, Jacob Beach, John Beach,; step- grandchildren, Katie, Sarah and Grace Telling and great-grandchildren, Sierra and Sabrina Beach and Kayla Campanile. Dr. Beach was on the staff of Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine for 40 years, serving two terms as Chief of Staff. He was a member of the Logan County Medical Society, president for two terms and delegate of ten years; a member of the Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He was the Logan County Jail Physician a number of years, a member of the Logan County Board of Health for 21 years and served as Medical Director for 5 more years. A member of the American Academy of Family Practice; this organization conferred the degree of Fellow on him in 1977 in Denver, Colorado. He was Director of Federal Savings and Loan, (now Sky Bank) from 1965-1992. He was a member of Kiwanis for many years and a past President. He served eight terms as President of the Logan County Heart Association and served as Director of the local Chamber of Commerce for two years. He was a member of the Symposiarchs and a life member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge 132. He was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church where he had formerly been a lector and was active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. His many interests included; hunting, fishing, woodworking, mushroom hunting and clock making. He will always be remembered for his quick wit, jokes and numerous stories; he endeared himself to everyone he met. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Mary Rutan Hospital Foundation-The Beach Medical Education Fund. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at The Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Church in Bellefontaine.