John A. Bewick Jr.

John A. Bewick, Jr, age 94, of Venetia died peacefully in his home on July 10, 2025. He was born on December 19, 1930, the son of John Bewick, Sr., and Eliza (Westwood) Bewick. He was raised in New Eagle, Pennsylvania on the banks of the Monongahela River.
John is survived by his son Richard "Rick" (Jodi) Bewick of McMurray, daughter Joanna Bewick of McMurray; and son Stuart (Lori) Bewick of West Mifflin; two grandchildren, Aiden John, and Samantha Jo Bewick; and his brother, Ronald (Dorothy) Bewick of Finleyville. John is predeceased by his wife of more than 60 years, Inez Marie Bewick, who passed in 2021, and his parents.
John's parents immigrated from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, UK in the 1920s. John learned his work ethic from his parents, John, Sr. who was a coal miner, and Elizah, who cleaned, took-in laundry, and hung wallpaper to provide for John and his brother, Ron. John graduated from Monongahela High School in 1948 where he made life-long friends and was a stand-out baseball player, leveraging his speed in centerfield. He paused his baseball dreams to serve in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954. John was part of the guided missile program, the Wernher von Braun-led predecessor to NASA, at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico. At the end of his service, he turned down a career in aviation with McDonnell Douglas and life in Southern California to return to his family in Pittsburgh. While in the Army, John played on their minor league baseball team and so, when he went to college at Washington & Jefferson and Penn State, he not only completed a degree in civil engineering, but earned his place from walk-on to starting center fielder.
After college, John took a job with Rust Engineering, a company that played a significant role in Pittsburgh's industrial development and was eventually acquired by Wheelabrator-Frye and teamed with Pullman-Swindell to create the sixth-largest engineering firm at the time. One of John's favorite design-build achievements was the Amtrak Auto Train, spanning from Virginia to Orlando.
After retirement, John remained busy with his canine best friends, Copper, Schatze and Daisy. He was an avid runner, raced with his children and grandchildren, and was often seen winning or placing in his age group at 5K races around Pittsburgh. On the South Side of Pittsburgh, he built a successful real estate business but earned his biggest returns in the relationships and stories he shared with the local residents and establishment owners. A British citizen by birth and an Anglophile by choice, he appreciated a good cup of tea, fish and chips, soccer and British comedies and mysteries. Finally, he enjoyed his time with his grandchildren, encouraging their education and sports endeavors. He was a fixture at the Peterswood Park ballfields, and tournaments around the area. Always coaching and mentoring not only his own grandkids but others, teaching the finer points of playing the game the "right" way. He was affectionately known to many around the fields as the "GM.
John was the best of us. Friendly, hard-working, and a great conversationalist, John led an exemplary life of providing for his family. His family is grateful for his love, loyalty, and support. After 94 years of devotion, we could not have asked for more. Dad, we will always love you.
Arrangements by Beinhauer Funeral Home. Family and friends welcome on Wednesday, July 16 from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317. A funeral service will be held Thursday, July 17 at 10am at the funeral home chapel. Interment will take place at Mingo Cemetery immediately following. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John A. Bewick, Jr., please visit our Tree Store.