Donald Eugene Beck

Donald Eugene Beck, 92, of Beavertown, surrounded by family and his beloved wife of 73 years, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Evangelical Hospital, Lewisburg.

He was born November 5, 1931, in Berwick, a son to the late Raymond G. and Edna M. Beck.  On Dec. 30, 1950, he married the love of his life, the former Verda Mae Hettinger, who survives.  He was the last of his siblings, Harold F., Carlton B., Charles W., Marqueen C. (Berger) and Rose M. (Baer).

‘Don/Donnie’ was a graduate of Berwick High School with the class of 1949.  He followed his brothers’ footsteps into military service by joining the United States Air Force and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant.  He was an instructor on jet engine repair, maintenance and conditioning on over a dozen different engines. He served during the Korean War and as part of the Air Force Reserve; retiring from the Air Force in 1976 after 27 years of service.  He credited the Air Force for developing and fostering his love of teaching. He attended the University of Illinois, Bloomsburg State College, Bucknell University and Penn State University. He began his high school teaching career teaching Social Studies at West Snyder High School in 1957.  His mentor, the late Norman E. Kline, advised him to pursue a career as a Guidance Counselor.  In this role, he helped students in and outside of school with academic pursuits and “life studies.” In 1987, he was honored as Pennsylvania’s Secondary School Counselor of the Year. 

Don’s love of the Air Force, his profession and his community were evident in his involvement in various organizations, many in which he held leadership roles. Among those include the West Snyder Lions Club, Boy Scouts of America, Beavertown Fire Company, Beavertown Borough Council, McClure Veterans Memorial Pool, American Legion Post 942, Pennsylvania School Counselors Association, Pennsylvania State Education Association, Pennsylvania Association of Retired School Employees, Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Parent Member of the Nescopeck Hunting & Rifle Club, Air Force Sergeants Association, and Founding Member of the 8th Air Force Memorial Foundation at Duxford, England (in honor of his late brother, Harold)  He also had a great love for the Sylvan Lake community where he and his family would spend their summers. As part of this community, he served on the Sylvan Lake Property Owners Association.  Don was an avid lifelong hunter and conservationist. He enjoyed trips to the ‘Lebo Hilton’ and sharing hunting memories on Shade Mountain.

He is preceded in death by his first son, Gary J. Beck. He is survived by his loving wife, Verda Mae, children, Robert C. Beck (Denise), Kathy B. Coslett (Scott); daughter-in-law Diane Beck; grandchildren Alyssa DiFranco (Pompeo), Briana Beck, Ashley Beachy (Jonathan), Austin Beck; and one great-grandson, Theo Tovornik.

Friends and family will be received from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 with a memorial service and military honors accorded by the Middle-West Veterans Honor Guard at 11 a.m. at the Beaver Lutheran Church, 18207 Rte 522, Beavertown. 

Arrangements are by the Kreamer Funeral Home, 130 S. Zechman St., Beavertown.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s memory can be made to the Veterans Memorial Pool, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum https://www.mightyeighth.org/support/, or the American Heart Association.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald Eugene Beck, please visit our floral store.