RICHARD A. BECKWITH SR. — CHICAGO — Richard Alston Beckwith Sr., 77, of Chicago, Ill., died Sunday, February 4, 1996.

Born on August 2, 1918, in Williamsport, W.Va., he was a son of the late Ashby Beckwith and Virginia Katherine (Clifford) Beckwith. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by one grandson, infant Ronald Twyman, and three brothers, Paige Beckwith, Clyde Beckwith and Paul Beckwith.

Mr. Beckwith received his early education in the public schools of West Virginia. Upon leaving West Virginia, Richard enlisted the United States Army. There he served his country well and was honorably discharged. Richard, the former owner of Beck's Auto Rebuilders, at-tended the Illinois Institute of Technology, and received a certificate in Small Business Administration. He was an active member of John Jones Life #7 F. & A. M. In 1989, he received a private pilots license and also became a member of the Chicago Area Pilot's Association.

Surviving are his wife, Katherine D. (Johnson) Beckwith; one daughter, Wanda L. V. Twyman, of Keyser, W.Va.; one son, Richard A. Beckwith Jr., of Chicago; Barbara Smith, Gwendolyn Redman, Rhonda Twyman, Llwendolyn Twyman, Sheila Twyman, Angelique Beckwith, Khalil Beckwith, Kyle Beckwith, Naomi Beckwith, Alysha Beckwith and Richard Beckwith III., and seven great-grandchildren, Robert, LaToya, Shawna, Brea, Tameka, Cory and Tyiesha; two brothers, Daniel Beckwith and David Beckwith, both of Keyser, and five sisters, Sarah Edmondson and Mary Porter, both of Ohio; Betty Taylor and Alberta Blowe, both of Keyser, and Katherine Ortiz, of Florida, and his godson, Norman White Jr.

Internment will be in the Oak Wood Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois.

Within our hearts, there will always be an empty place which was reserved for Richard.