Obituary for Paul G. Beckett Paul Graham Beckett, 96 passed away June 15, 2018, at his home in The Villages, Florida. He was born December 15, 1921, in Boggsville, Pennsylvania, the son of John G. Beckett and Anna E. (Thompson) Beckett. In 1945, he married Muriel E. Mateer, who passed away just days before their 62nd wedding anniversary in 2007.
They are survived by three daughters, Diane (Robert) Stanko of Wilmore, Kentucky; Karen (Donald) McNutt of Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania; and Deborah Beckett of The Villages, Florida; five grandchildren: Brian (Sandra) Stanko, Patricia (William) Stanko Seil, Eric (Michelle) McNutt, Neal (Laura) McNutt, and Lauren (Eli) McNutt Walters; nine great-grandchildren, and many loved nieces and nephews. Paul grew up on the family farm in Boggsville, graduated from Freeport High School in 1940, served in the 101st Infantry Yankee Division during World War II, and was a prisoner-of-war during part of that time. After discharge and a short time studying aviation mechanics in Pittsburgh, Paul and Muriel moved back closer to home where they ran a grocery store and gas station.
Paul was an accomplished carpenter, building furniture and gifts as well as one of their homes and a service station. He drove school bus for several years, then drove for Harmony Short Line, Culmerville Bus Company, and Pittsburgh Port Authority Transit, where he retired as a dispatcher in 1983. Paul was an active member of his church in the various locations where he and Muriel lived, serving as a Sunday school teacher, trustee, and elder.
They were charter members of Faith Presbyterian Church in Wildwood, Florida. Paul was also an author, writing his autobiography, “Barefoot, Shod, and Slippered,” which was published in 2003. The first and second printings sold out, but a digital version is available online.
In addition to his wife and parents, Paul was preceded in death by his brother Wilbur (Isabel) Beckett, and three sisters: Mildred (Robert ) Maurer, Betty (George) Cockroft, and Nina Pearl Beckett (infant). Viewing will be Thursday from 4-6:00 p.m. at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home in Wildwood, and the service at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at Faith Presbyterian Church, Oxford, followed by burial at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Faith Presbyterian Church of Oxford, Florida.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Paul G. Beckett please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Fl, 33513 2018 Previous Events Visitation 2018 JUN 21. 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM Banks/Page-Theus Chapel 410 Webster St Wildwood, FL, US, 34785 Funeral 2018 JUN 22.
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