Dr. Charles R. Beardsley Sr.

DR. CHARLES R. BEARDSLEY SR.
McALLEN - Dr. Charles R. Beardsley, Sr. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at the age of 90. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Eleanor Tappen Beardsley; sons, Dr. King Scott, and Charles R. Beardsley, Jr. of McAllen and daughter, Ann Beardsley Mjos of Austin. He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Barbara Beardsley Gonstead, and his son Guy John Beardsley.
He is also survived by his sons-in-law, Dr. Curtis Gonstead of Beloit, Wisconsin and Stephen Mjos of Austin, daughter-in-law, Kathleen Reeser Beardsley Hampton of San Antonio, his grandchildren; Ann-Mari Gonstead Westerhoff of Breckenridge, Colorado, Dr. Eric Gonstead of Beloit, Wisconsin, Dr. Andrea Gonstead McCabe of Beloit, Wisconsin, Sven Gonstead of Marquette, Michigan, Dr. Erin Beardsley McCallen of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Trina Beardsley Lindemann of San Antonio, and Elizabeth Ann Mjos, Emily Anne Mjos, Alexandria Beardsley Mjos of Austin, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Charles was born on September 22, 1916 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Charles and Bertha Hanson Beardsley. When he was ten years old, the family moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he was educated in Madison schools. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology and his Master's of Science Degree in Biology and Education. He was an All-American swimmer for the University of Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he taught biology and physics, and coached swimming at Rochester High School in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Southern California in 1945. He served in the Army during WWII where he examined eyes for soldiers at Fort Crowder, Missouri.
After practicing optometry in Houston briefly, Charles opened his McAllen office in 1947. He practiced optometry for over 50 years in McAllen and Rio Grande City. He was fortunate to have his son, Dr. King Scott Beardsley join the practice later on. He was a lifetime member of American Optometric Association, a Lifetime Member of Texas Optometric Association, and was a member of the McAllen Lions Club since 1947. Within The Lions Club, he was a Lifetime Member of The Lions Club International, and a Lifetime Member of The McAllen Noon Lions Club, a Melvin Jones Fellow, a Jack Weich Fellow, a Texas Lions Fellow, a Life Member of The Texas Lions Camp, and a Wall of Honor Member of The Texas Lion Eye Bank. He also received The Silver Cane Award through The Lions Service for the Blind.
Charles loved sports of all types, fishing, hunting, reading, and traveling. His family and friends will miss his kind, easygoing personality with a wonderful sense of humor.
Honorary Pallbearers are: R.T. Sparks, Jr., Mary Lippolt, Noelia Escobar, Viola Escobar, Andy Rodriquez, Mary Rodriguez, and Dr. Juan Cerda.
Visitation with the family will be held from 9-11 am, Saturday, April 14, 2007 with a memorial celebration service following at 11am at the Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Texas Lions Camp for Crippled Children. Please mail contributions to McAllen Lions Club, P.O. Box 720310, McAllen, TX, 78504. Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.
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