William Robinson Cook Beard

William Robinson Cook Beard, "Rob" to all friends and associates, passed away unexpectedly on September 14th, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. Rob had an uncanny knack for finding a friend in any town, institution, club, airport, train station, or trail, whether fifty miles away from Louisville or five thousand. He was your proud classmate at Louisville Country Day, Williams College, or University of Virginia Law. He was your 38-year partner with Stites & Harbison, PLLC, where he was grateful to be a colleague among those who endeavored in the pursuit of service and justice. He was your Beard cousin, linked to hundreds across the eastern seaboard, and simultaneously a son of his old Kentucky home. He was in your foursome or your doubles partner at the Harmony Landing Country Club, Mockingbird Valley Racquet Club, or the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. He befriended you while hiking the trails around Cashiers, North Carolina or traveling the world in search of adventure, knowledge, and delicious food and wine. Rob had a different understanding of the word "retirement" than most, and so gave his "free" time to many organizations, most notably as Chairman of the Board of Camp Merrie-Woode, in Sapphire, North Carolina and as Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky. With his 83 and a half years, Rob's list of accomplishments is long, however, his enduring 55-year marriage to the love of his life, unstoppable support of his twin daughters, and unwavering encouragement of his grandchildren top the list.
Rob is predeceased and welcomed into the best cocktail party of all by his father David Fleming Beard, his mother Margaret Cook Beard, his sister Vida Beard Ruppe, and his daughter Sarah Kelly Beard. He is survived and deeply missed by his wife Barbara Waterfill Beard of Louisville, his daughter Brecky Beard Peabody, his son-in-law Mark Peabody, his grandson Ryan, and his granddaughter Dustin, all of Arlington, Massachusetts.
A celebration of life is to be held at the Christ Church Cathedral, 421 S 2nd St., Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday October 5th at 11AM, with visiting hours beforehand 9 to 11.
Those who wish to give in Rob's memory may consider the Christ Church Cathedral or Camp Merrie-Woode
Arrangements under the direction of Pearson's, "Where Louisville Goes to Remember".