LELDON FOY BEARD, passed away peacefully with his wife of 67 years, Marjorie Winans Beard, by his side on Sunday, September 6, 2009. He was born in Groesbeck, Texas on July 12, 1918, to Lee Roy Beard and Ruby Myrtle Beard. He moved to Richmond, Texas, as an infant and after later moving to Rosenberg, graduated from Rosenberg High School in 1936. He attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1941 with Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering degrees. Unable to receive his commission and serve his country during World War II because of a high school football injury he accepted a position with Pan American World Airways in Brownsville, Texas where he met and married Marjorie in 1942. They moved to Miami and New Orleans where he became a Flight Engineer and where their first daughter, Linda Kay Beard, was born. Their return to Miami enabled him to proudly fly troops out of Africa under Air Transport Command and Pan American, for which he earned a commission of First Lieutenant in the United States Air Corps. His next assignment was in Rio de Janeiro where his second daughter, Cheryl Ann Beard, was born and where he flew to Africa and Europe for Panair do Brasil. In 1949 he was assigned to Pan American in New York flying to and from Europe. He moved to Texas in 1952, which proved to be his longest assignment, flying to and from Central and South America. In 1969 he flew his last transfer out of Los Angeles on the 747's where, along with his other flying assignments, he proudly flew troops to and from Vietnam, including former prisoners of war. His last flight out of Los Angeles for Pan American was in July of 1980 upon which his wife proudly accompanied him, receiving a warm reception from Pan American personnel and family members upon their arrival back into Los Angeles. During his 39 years with Pan American World Airways Leldon flew with many memorable and noteworthy people, but none were more memorable than the honor and privilege of having Charles Lindbergh at the controls during one of his flights. After his retirement he was active in St Mark's Episcopal Church where he was in the Men's Group and served as Senior Warden. He was active in the Fort Bend A&M Club where he was President for one year and The Rotary Club where he had perfect attendance for 20 years. He was predeceased in death by his parents, his sister Elouise Beard Smith of College Station, Texas, and his brother Robert Lee Beard of Richmond, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Winans Beard, daughters Linda Beard Madeira and her husband Bill Madeira of Sugar Land and Cheryl Beard Jeter of Houston, grandchildren Lesli Madeira Cushing, Brent Beard Madeira, Jeffrey Madison Jeter, Jonathan Beard Jeter and James William Jeter, great grandchildren Tyler Marc Cushing and Abbey Lee Cushing, sister-in-law Carolyn Beard, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Colonial Oaks and Silvarado Hospice for their exceptional loving care for Leldon. Friends are invited to visitation with the family from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 9 at Garmany and Carden Funeral Directors Chapel, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX. Funeral services will be conducted by The Reverend Janet Gilmore and assisted by The Reverend Earl Sheffield at 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 10 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 7615 FM 762, Richmond, Texas. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Rosenberg. Pallbearers are Leldon's four grandsons Jeffrey Jeter, Brent Madeira, Jonathan Jeter and James Jeter, his son-in-law Bill Madeira, his granddaughter's husband, Dean Cushing and his four nephews Terry Smith, Don Smith, Jay Beard and Neal Beard. Honorary pallbearers are B. J. Adams, Bill Carpenter, Tom Pamplin, Thomas Pamplin, Lee Winans, Robert Winans, Matt Coyle, Bill Brawn, Neil Thomas, Dwayne Dawlearn and Richard Gaas. In lieu of flowers, if desired, contributions may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1627, Richmond, Texas, 77406 or The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, 505 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840-2918. Condolences messages may be left for the Beard family at www.garmanycarden.com. Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.
Published in the Houston Chronicle, Wed., Sept. 9, 2009.