Carolyn A. Beimdiek

Beimdiek, Carolyn A.

A message in a church sermon inspired how Carolyn Beimdiek lived her life: "The most important item on a tombstone is the hyphen between the date of birth and the date of death. We have little control over those two numbers, but we have a lot of control over that hyphen in between."

A lifelong volunteer, Carolyn

spent her time serving and advoca-

ting for others.

It is with profound sadness, we announce the passing of Carolyn

Anderson Beimdiek, 89, beloved and devoted spouse, mother, grandmother, and aunt on January 24, 2021 following a hard- fought battle with Parkinson's disease. She died peacefully at home surrounded by her husband and children.

Carolyn was born in Ashland, KY, to James A. Anderson Jr. and Ann (Settlemeyer) Anderson (both educators). She graduated from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. After graduation, she worked as a "Danny Grad" with the Danforth Foundation in Minnesota. She went on to graduate from Washington University School of Medicine Occupational Therapy program in St. Louis and to work as a psychiatric occupational therapist at Barnes-Jewish and Missouri Baptist Hospitals.

In 1956, she met the love of her life, Don, at a 65-cent supper for young singles at Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis' Central West End. Two years later they were married there and remained actively involved.

Carolyn was kind, generous and had a beautiful soul. She was an inspiration to every life she touched. In 1992 Carolyn was named a Woman of Achievement for her work in literacy and community service. In 2012, at the age of 80, she was recognized as an Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisan.

She volunteered countless hours to The Literacy Council of St. Louis, serving as president for 4 years and growing the number of volunteer tutors from 150 to 400+. She served on the boards of Springboard to Learning; Brentwood Library; Good Ground Pantry; St. Louis Christmas Carols Association; and the Community Garden Project.

She organized members of Second Presbyterian Church to serve as grade school tutors in St. Louis Public Schools. She served on the board and volunteered at the Scholarship Foundation that provides college scholarships for low-income students from the St. Louis area.

For fourteen years, she led Girl Scout and Brownie troops and a Cub Scout den for her four children, Later, she continued to lead Girl Scout troops for girls in St. Louis. She volunteered for more than two decades as a literacy tutor for at-risk children and adults.

She loved dogs, ice cream, Sunday night family dinners, tennis, needlepointing, reading, classical music, stained glass windows, vocabulary word games, family vacations and traveling the world with her beloved husband. Carolyn and Don traveled to six of the seven continents. Highlights of their global journeys include bicycle adventures in England, France, Holland, and Italy, walking on the Great Wall of China, swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, attending services in Westminster Abbey and taking a balloon ride over a herd of giraffes in Kenya. They also retraced the end of Lewis & Clark's expedition on the Columbia River.

Carolyn was immensely proud of her family and leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion toward others. She is survived by: her husband of 62 years, Donald U. Beimdiek; son, Stephen L. Beimdiek (Katie Barrett); three daughters Bevy A. Beimdiek; Lynn Beimdiek Morris (Dave Morris); all of St. Louis, and Karen Beimdiek Baratz (David Baratz) of Chevy Chase, Maryland; six grandchildren, Andrew and William Morris; Amanda and Henry Baratz and Margaret and Barrett Beimdiek; nephew Fred Anderson and niece, Dru Anderson, both of Nashville, TN. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Arthur Anderson III.

Friends are invited to honor Carolyn by donating to the Scholarship Foundation https://sfstl.org/ (6825 Clayton Ave Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63139) or Join Hands ESL https:// joinhandsesl.org/ (P.O. Box 1429, East St. Louis, IL 62202.)

Services: A memorial to celebrate Carolyn's life will be held at Second Presbyterian Church on a future date.