John was the 5th of 8 children born to John C. and Mary Kathryn (Gunning) Beaver. He lived his entire life in Kokomo except for the four years when he was in the Marine Corps. He was stationed in Santa Ana, California at the helicopter squadrons there. He married Marguerite "Margie" on March 25, 1971; she was in the Navy at the time. After they both were discharged in 1972, the couple returned to Kokomo to make their home. John worked at Delco and became an Air Force Reservist at Grissom Air Force Base. He enjoyed science fiction, karate and astronomy but he loved showing off his baby girl. He would take her to the local mall by himself and parade her in her stroller. He made her breakfast every morning and took her everywhere.
John belonged to the local astronomy club and made his own 10 inch Newtonian reflecting telescope. He could name all the constellations and spent many evenings laying on the grass looking up at the stars.
John was killed at his father's home while attempting to erect a CB antenna. The mast sheared off and went into the main power lines. He didn't get to see his son born two months later.
John donated his body to science; however, his cremains were returned three years later for burial in the Beaver family plot at Crown Point Cemetery in Kokomo. He was an outstanding father and would have adored his three grandchildren and three great grandsons (2021).
Cenotaph here
John was the 5th of 8 children born to John C. and Mary Kathryn (Gunning) Beaver. He lived his entire life in Kokomo except for the four years when he was in the Marine Corps. He was stationed in Santa Ana, California at the helicopter squadrons there. He married Marguerite "Margie" on March 25, 1971; she was in the Navy at the time. After they both were discharged in 1972, the couple returned to Kokomo to make their home. John worked at Delco and became an Air Force Reservist at Grissom Air Force Base. He enjoyed science fiction, karate and astronomy but he loved showing off his baby girl. He would take her to the local mall by himself and parade her in her stroller. He made her breakfast every morning and took her everywhere.
John belonged to the local astronomy club and made his own 10 inch Newtonian reflecting telescope. He could name all the constellations and spent many evenings laying on the grass looking up at the stars.
John was killed at his father's home while attempting to erect a CB antenna. The mast sheared off and went into the main power lines. He didn't get to see his son born two months later.
John donated his body to science; however, his cremains were returned three years later for burial in the Beaver family plot at Crown Point Cemetery in Kokomo. He was an outstanding father and would have adored his three grandchildren and three great grandsons (2021).
Cenotaph here
Inscription
Astronomer and Family Man, Father of Tara and Ryan. Married to Margie on 25 March 1971. Ad Astra Per Aspera.
Gravesite Details
John's custom granite marker is in Indiana with his cremains; his military marker is at I.O.O.F. cemetery in Ellensburg, Washington as a cenotaph.