Andrew William Beck

Andrew William Beck, known to just about everyone as Bill (and to a select few who could get away with it as Billy), died on Friday May 23 in Marietta. In November 2009, he sustained a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the shoulders down. He finally succumbed to that injury after 15 and a half years of fighting. If you knew Bill at all, then you know how hard he fought.

Bill was born in Cumming, Georgia on September 11, 1981 to Stephen William Beck and Katherine Dingess Beck. The family moved to Whipple when Bill was a year old to be closer to Stephen’s family. Bill and his sister Sarah grew up roaming the woods, creeks and fields of their grandparents’ farm. Bill loved that land more than anything and never wanted to leave. As a boy, he searched for fossils, arrowheads and salamanders. As he grew older he started hunting and managed the land to create a whitetail deer habitat. He was an avid hunter both before his accident as well as after with incredibly inventive adaptive equipment and a retinue of people who would come together to get him into the woods.

Despite being paralyzed, Bill had a wide range of interests and hobbies that included astrophotography, writing software and creating with his 3D printer, breeding and rearing a truly astonishing number of African cichlid fish, and most recently computer numerical control (or CNC) metal machining. He loved his dogs and cats and interacting with them brought him much joy.

Countless people have worked hard over the years to keep Bill in his own home, starting with his AEP coworkers at the time of his accident, who banded together to make that home accessible for him. His friends including Matt, Larry, Dave, Steve-O, and many more who aren’t named here, could always be counted on to help with a chore or stop by for a visit. There have been so many caregivers over the years for whom spending time with Bill was more than just a job, including his aunt Libby.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He leaves behind his sister Sarah, stepmother Tammy, stepsister Stajah, stepbrother Daniel, aunt Libby, uncle John, cousins AmberLee and Rebekah, and all of their families. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday July 12 at 2:00 at the Fearing Township Volunteer Fire Department. All are welcome to come and share their memories and stories of Bill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fearing Volunteer Fire Department in recognition of their support and care of Bill over the years.

He leaves behind his sister Sarah and her husband Michael, of Colorado, his uncle John, aunt Martha, and cousins AmberLee and Rebekah of Massachusetts, stepmother Tammy of Marietta, and step siblings Stajah of Gahanna and Daniel of Marietta, as well as his aunt Libby of Whipple.

Cawley & Peoples is honored to serve Bill’s family and offers online condolences as well as many other resources by visiting their website, www.CawleyandPeoples.com or by following their Facebook page.