Bernard Becker

1932 - 2023

On February 11, 2023, Bernard Dixon Becker of Monrovia, MD was surrounded by family and friends as Heaven gained a good man. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of sixty years, Helen Virginia Becker, and his siblings, Frank Marion Becker, Mary (Richard) Dwyer, and Marie (Ralph) Marlett. He is survived by his four children, Edward Dixon Becker, Kenneth Louis Becker, George William Becker, and Catherine Virgina Edsall (nee Becker), as well as nineteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was a loving husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and a friend to all whom he met.

Bernard (Bernie) was born to Francis Marion Becker Sr. and Catherine Virginia Becker (nee Beattie) in Alexandria, VA, on July 14, 1932. He attended George Washington High School. Helen and Bernie Becker were married on Sept 14, 1957, at St. Anthony's Church in Falls Church, VA.

Bernie served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956 as an Electronics Engineer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph, an experience he often described as one of the best times of his life. After working a stint as an electrician for his older brother at Becker Electric Co of Alexandria, VA, Bernie used his Navy experience to land a job at IBM. He had a long and bright career at IBM, first traveling across the USA to various customer sites as a lead hardware engineer, then moving into the software arena to become one of the foremost experts in JES2. Bernie retired from IBM in 1992 after 32 years.

Bernie met Helen through his best friend and Helen's brother, Barney Shifflett. As teenagers, Bernie and Barney were known for staying up all night and playing "Hillbilly music" at Barney's house. Bernie and his brothers-in-law would frequently 'catch a train' to Winchester to see Patsy Cline and Roy Clark, as well as others on the Country Music Circuit. Bernie and Barney maintained their friendship and passion for music throughout their whole life, teaching their kids how to play guitar and pulling out the guitars every Thanksgiving for a memorable performance.

After marrying in 1957, Bernie and Helen settled in the suburbs of Alexandria near Rose Hill, purchasing their first house. Four children (Eddie, Kenny, George, and Cathy) later, the family moved just a few blocks to a new house where the children attended the local schools, Helen worked in the home, and Bernie built his career at IBM. A transfer to Gaithersburg in 1978 led the family to move to Monrovia, Maryland, where Bernie and Helen held court with family and friends until their final days. Bernie was always welcoming to friends, neighbors, and family. Together his and Helen's house was always filled with a crowd -- a tradition handed down from their parents.

Bernie's love of antique cars was legendary. At one point, he commandeered the family rec room to rebuild, from the ground up, a 1932 Chevrolet Coupe, a 1964 and a 1969 Corvair, and multiple Cadillacs. Later, in his retired years, he collected and modeled antique trains, entertaining the grandkids for hours.

A self-taught historian, Bernie spent nearly ten years tracing his family's roots specifically looking for the final resting place of his grandfather, the late Henry T. Harrison, a scout for the South during the Civil War, and a good friend of General Longstreet. During his research Bernie uncovered handwritten letters which detailed Harrison's movements during the war, including passages recounting a certain meeting with General Lee, then near York, PA. Harrison advised Lee that he was being chased by General Meade, then in Maryland. Lee turned his forces around and moved south, resulting in the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.

Bernie finally located his grandfather's unmarked grave in Covington, KY, and arranged for a full military burial and headstone by the Veterans Administration.

While he was a man of few words, Bernie was eloquent and direct, yet he was always happy to talk about Civil War history, Abraham Lincoln or his time in the Navy. He was a true patriot, incredibly proud of his service and the United States. He will be sorely missed.

Interment will be private, at Quantico National Cemetery, at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Heritage Frederick - The Historical Society of Frederick County:

24 E Church St

Frederick, MD 21701 Bernard Becker