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Paul William Beal,
84, of Pensacola went home to be with the Lord March 22, 2009.
He was a member of
Myrtle Grove Baptist Church.
Paul was born and
raised in Hartsville, Tennessee, and was an avid Tennessee Volunteers
fan.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for 30 years and was a
veteran of World War II, the
Korean War and the Vietnam War.
In 1944
while war was raging in the Pacific, he stormed the beaches of Saipan
with the 2nd Marine Division. The following year he did the same in the
Battle of Okinawa.
One of the high-lights of his career was being part of the first
expedition to Antarctica from
October of 1947 to March of 1948 aboard the Ice Breaker USS Burton
Island. Paul would later return two more times to Antarctica, first in
October of 1956 and finally in October of 1957.
He was a proud
member of the Old Antarctic Explorers Association, a group of men who
braved the harsh environment of the South Pole. He remained a faithful
member of this organization right up to the time of his death.
When his country was once again at war, Paul was there, again, ready to
serve. As a member of the
1st Marine Division he fought in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
After
faithfully serving his country in both war and peace, Paul retired from
the U.S. Navy on April 7, 1972.
We, as a country,
owe him and his fellow heroes a deep debt of gratitude for their
selfless service.
Mr. Beal was preceded in death by his mother Francis Beal; two brothers,
James Beal and Joseph
Beal; four sisters, Inez Riley; Margaret Manning; Dorothy Davis and
Christine Hewgley.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Marilyn Beal; five daughters,
Louise Kendrick of
Pensacola; Kathy Lewallyn (Dennis) of Pensacola, Phyllis Saxon (Mike) of
Eufaula, AL; Joan Alberto (Don) of Fredericksburg, VA; Janet Cagle
(Jeff) of Pensacola; eight grandchildren, David Lewallyn (Katie); Bryan
Lewallyn; Heather Saxon; Hillary Saxon; Emily Alberto; John Alberto;
Melanie Cagle; Will Cagle and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 12:00 noon with Rev. Ron Lentine and Dr.
Alton Butler presiding.
Burial will follow
at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard N.A.S. Pensacola.
Visitors will be received prior to the service at 11:00 A.M.
The family would like to thank Dr. David E. Phillips, Dr. Daniel Doty
and their staffs at Sacred
Heart Hospital, the nurses at Covenant Hospice and the staff at The
Veranda for the love and care
they gave our dad.
The family would also like to thank Mr. Charles Henke for his faithful
friendship. He spent
countless hours listening to our dad tell stories about his exploits in
Antarctica with his
grandfather, Milton Henke.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Myrtle Grove Baptist
Church, Covenant Hospice,
The Veranda Resident's Activities Fund or a charity of your choice.
Active Pallbearers will be the sons-in-law, and grandsons. Honorary
Pallbearers will be Charles
Henke, the staff at The Veranda and the Men's Adult-7 Sunday School
Class at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church.
Arrangements made by Oak Lawn Funeral Home.
Homegoing Service - Flash Video & Audio |
