Richard (Dick) Beard

Richard "Dick" Beard, 89, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Visiting Nurse in Fort Wayne. Born in Buffalo, NY, Dick earned his bachelor degree in Electric Engineering from Cornell University. Upon graduation he was honored and privileged to be chosen as the engineer of the Freedom Train which traveled 33,000 miles on 52 tracks displaying more than 100 historical documents including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He worked with General Electric for 45 years, retiring in 1998. He was a member of Memorial Baptist Church, GE Quarter Century Club and their Elfin Talking Books for the blind, Toastmaster, and Model A Restoration Club. Dick enjoyed restoring his Model A and T cars and was awarded the Henry Ford Award for his work. Dick was also an avid Buffalo Bills fan. Surviving are his wife Janice Beard of Fort Wayne, daughters Sharon Baker of Fort Wayne, Barbara Holmes of Indianapolis, step-daughters Christine (Chad) Trouten, Cynthia (Brian) Boos, Margaret (Cameron) Stutsman all of Fort Wayne, grandchildren Shawn (Jennifer), Chad (Kendra), and Ian (Monique) Holmes, Sarah Baker, step-grandchildren Tristan and Kayden Stutsman, six great-grandchildren, and sister Virginia Beard of Buffalo, NY. Dick was preceded in death by parents Damon and Ethel Beard, first wife Lorraine Beard, son David Beard, and grandson Jason Baker. Service is 2:00 pm, Wednesday April 16, 2014 at D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue with calling from noon until the service, Rev. David Mitchell officiating. Burial in Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Memorials may be made to Memorial Baptist Church. To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com.