Larry Gilbert Beall, PhD

Larry Gilbert Beall, PhD was born January 22, 1941 in Johnson City, NY to the late Gilbert Hartman and Evelyn Lindsey Beall. He passed away peacefully with his wife Kathy at his side on Thursday, December 1, 2022, in Pensacola, FL. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brother, Bradley Clyde Beall.

Larry led a joyous and adventurous life, with a family who loved him and many long-time friends who treasured their time with him. His Mom always said, “Larry was born under a lucky star.” He was fiercely independent, intelligent, a man of integrity who had a true sense of irony in his humor-a good storyteller. He and Kathy met at Boulevard Methodist Church as teenagers when he was an usher, and she sang in the choir. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August. Their marriage was a true partnership of love and admiration with a shared sense of adventure to explore the world together.

Larry received his Bachelor’s degree at Harpur College, Vestal, NY where he played on the golf team, Master’s at University of South Carolina and PhD at Duke University in Economics. He was a professor of economics for 30 years at Virginia Commonwealth University, including teaching two years of medical economics at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He was the Director of the Urban Management Center and was often called on as an expert witness in trials involving economic judgements. Larry served as President of the Virginia Association of Economics in the 1980’s. He was a very active member of the Richmond Dove Association for 30 years, loved bird hunting, fishing, golf and Duke Blue Devils basketball. He received 3 Senior Fulbright Scholar Awards as a Specialist in economic development- first living a year at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji and in the distant education centers of the 11 Pacific Countries of the University community. (1988-89).

Following consultancies in Sana’a, Yemen and Baku, Azerbaijan for the World Bank, he received a second Fulbright for study in Indonesia in 1991. In 1992 he became the Director of two projects funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish University graduate programs in Java and Sulawesi, Indonesia which continued through 1999. Also, in 1999 Larry received a third Fulbright award for study in Malaysia and Singapore. He spent at least two months each year 1992-2000 participating in seminars and leading study groups in Oceana, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and SE Asia. Larry received a total of 9 years of USAID grants in Indonesia, primarily based in Makassar Sulawesi at the University of Hasanuddin.

Following that Larry became a Smithsonian Enrichment Lecturer on Cunard, Seaborn and Crystal Cruise lines for 8 years throughout China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the South Pacific Islands, Papua, New Guinea and Australia before retiring from academics. He then formed Angel Pacific, a business consultancy with Australian Partners and dear friends John and Norma Sullivan.  

In 2001 Larry and Kathy moved to Pensacola, FL to live in East Hill and quickly became very active in the Jazz Society of Pensacola hosting the poster tent at Jazz Fest for many years and Larry creating the Vickers Artist in Residence Fund pro bono. They loved attending Pensacola Symphony Orchestra concerts, CivicCon and IHMC lectures, Pensacola Little Theater, the cultural activities at Pensacola State College and University of West Florida, the Elks club (to watch sunsets from the deck). Larry was a great supporter of the Blue Wahoo’s with a brass nameplate on his seat just a few rows up from home plate. Larry loved Pensacola and although he was a world traveler for many years once in Pensacola he often quoted “Travel til it feels like home.” In 2017 Larry and Kathy moved to Azalea Trace which they have thoroughly enjoyed.

Those left to cherish his memory include, his wife, Kathryn Elliott Beall, of Pensacola, FL; children, Mark Lawrence Beall (Sharon) and Laura Kathryn Beall Payne (Art), both of Richmond, VA;  granddaughter, Lindsey Kathryn Payne of Norfolk, VA.

Memorial Service to honor Larry’s life will be held 11:00 AM on Wednesday,  December 14, 2022, at Azalea Trace,  led by Chaplain Glenn Jago.

Special thanks for his excellent care over the years by Matthew Daniels, MD;  Dany El Sayeh, MD his team members Shannon Cassidy and Lynn Thorton. Larry was also grateful for very special friends Barbara Simandle, Utica, NY; Melissa Picardi- Harris, Pensacola, FL, John and Norma Sullivan, Melbourne, Australia.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra-Beyond the Walls program or to the Jazz Society of Pensacola - Vickers Artist in Residence Fund (VARF).