John Beebe

March 14, 1928 - January 8, 2015

From Cannons to Crosses, John (Jack) McRae Beebe was born March 14, at Ft. Benning, Georgia to Lewis C. Beebe and Dorothy McRae Beebe. He came from a long line of Military Family dating back to the Civil War. He spent his young life in Faribault, Minnesota. In 1939 he moved to the Philippines with his parents. They were there until 1941 when WWII broke out. He and his mother were evacuated back to Faribault, Minnesota where he lived until the end of WWII. He attended Shattuck Military School. After the war he moved to Ft. Sam Houston with his family and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1946. He attended the University of Minnesota for two years. In 1948 he enlisted in the Army, completing basic training at Fort Ord, California. Upon completion of training he was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He was ordered to Ft. Riley, Kansas to attend Officer Candidate School in 1950; followed by Infantry Officer Basic Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He received orders to Korea with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He served in Korea as an Infantry Platoon Leader during the time referred to as the coldest winter, earning a Bronze Star for Valor. While serving on the front line in Korea, he received word of his father's death by oceanic radio. Because of combat obligations, he was unable to come home to say goodbye to his dad. Returning to the states he reported to duty with the 82nd Air Borne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. In 1953 he resigned from the army and returned to college at the School for Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC. He graduated from Georgetown June 6, 1955, with a BS in Foreign Service. In 1955 Jack joined the army, again as an artillery officer, and was ordered to Ft. Bliss, Texas for training. After training he was assigned to a 90 mm antiaircraft artillery battery at Ft. Funston, San Francisco, California as Battery Commander. Jack always had a desire to be a pilot. In 1956 he was accepted to Army pilot training at Gary Army Airfield in San Marcos, Texas. He flew fixed wing and helicopter. There he met Kate Williams, the love of his life. They were married August 31, 1957, at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. He served with the 101st Airborne Div. at Ft. Campbell, Ky. He then was stationed in Verona, Italy with SETAF. Following this assignment he received orders to Ft. Bragg, NC with the 82nd Airborne Division and was deployed to Vietnam from 1968-69. After 26 years in the Military he retired in 1971. Jack moved his family to Austin, Texas where he attended the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest and was ordained an Episcopal Priest in 1974. He served as Asst. Rector at St. James in Del Rio, and as Rector at Grace Church in Cuero, and St. Paul's Church in San Antonio. He retired from active priesthood in 1992. He was a dedicated servant to the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas which he served selflessly. He was loved by all those he served and will be missed by many. Jack is survived by his wife, Kate, of 57 years; three children, Patricia and Jerry Salcher, of Austin, Texas, Alex and Pattie Beebe, of Boerne, Texas, and James and Ann Beebe, who currently live in Rockville, Maryland. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren who dearly loved him and will greatly miss him.

MEMORIAL SERVICE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2015
11:00 A.M.
ST. THOMAS ESPICOPAL CHURCH
1416 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

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