Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Lonnie "Papaw" Beard passed away in his sleep on Sunday May 8, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born February 4, 1920 in Louisville, Mississippi, grew up in Columbus, Mississippi and settled near Sacramento, California in 1961. He had been in San Antonio for the past three years under the care of his daughter Betty and husband Craig Reuter. Lonnie was a three war veteran, serving in WWII, the Korean War, and two tours in Vietnam for a total of 32 years in the Army and Air Force, retiring in 1972. He was involved with the Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club in California and served a term as president. Lonnie was one of the founding members and provided long term leadership of Senior Gleaners, an organization tasked with feeding needy seniors and others in the Sacramento area. Then, he was appointed to the board of directors of the California Commission on Aging by three different governors. He was also a member of the Air Force Security Police Association. Lonnie gave of himself to his country, his community and his family. He will be remembered for his tenacity and professionalism at work, his caring and empathy for others in his volunteer work, his wisdom and love when interacting with family, and his care free attitude when he played. He loved to fish and collect gadgets of all sorts. Lonnie was always generous and had a positive attitude when dealing with any issue. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eloise, who he married in 1941, his daughter Joyce, and his son Lonnie. He is survived by his daughter Betty and her husband Craig Reuter of San Antonio, daughter Bonita and her husband John Davis of Folsom, California and his son's surviving wife Judy Beard of Citrus Heights, California. He is also survived by grandchildren Dean and Scott Reuter, Joyce, Jennifer and Jason Davis, Amy Hennings, with great grandchildren Robyn Reuter, Marley Davis and Malia Hennings, a cousin Henry "Pump" Beard and nephews Neil, Wayne, Lonnie and Bobby Beard and Eugene Carson, niece and Christine Calloway and then grand nephews/nieces Jerry Wayne Beard, Todd Glusenkamp, Carol Ann Stafford and Karen Sullivan and all their extended families. He will be missed by all who knew him. We cannot express our respect and gratitude enough for the wonderful care provided by Hospice Compassus over the past three months and would encourage donations to them in lieu of any gifts or flowers at 4204 Woodcock Dr. San Antonio, TX 78228. Betty and Craig will open their home on Saturday May 14, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm for visitors and a memorial, and similarly, Bonita and John will have a memorial at their home in Folsom on June 4, 2011.
Published online
Published in the Sacramento Bee May 29, 2011
Lonnie Beard, who served his country as a military veteran of three wars and helped feed the hungry as a founding member of Senior Gleaners, died May 8. He was 91.
He died in his sleep in San Antonio, where he moved in 2008, said his daughter Bonita Davis.
Shaped by hard times, Mr. Beard devoted his life to helping others. During the Great Depression, he left school to work in the Civilian Conservation Corps to support his family. He fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, where he set up an orphanage. He volunteered with the Red Cross, raised money for Shriners hospitals and was active in veterans groups.
Mr. Beard was a founding member and a longtime guiding force for Senior Gleaners, a nonprofit group that collects food for charitable groups. He served six terms as president and 25 years on the board of directors.
"I've committed my life to helping the Gleaners," he told The Bee in 1993. "I come from Mississippi. My dad was a sharecropper. I know what it is to be poor and needy."
Born in 1920, Lonnie Iron Beard grew up in a family of five children in Columbus, Miss. He joined the Army in 1940, transferred to the Air Force in 1946 and rose to the rank of senior master sergeant in the Air Police.
In 1967, while guarding U-2 spy planes, he was accidentally exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant. He suffered debilitating injuries and received a medical disability discharge in 1972 at Mather Air Force Base.
Mr. Beard had four children with his wife of 60 years, the former Eloise Dixon, who died in 2001. He was predeceased by a daughter, Joyce, who died at 18 months; and son Lonnie Jr., a former Sacramento County sheriff's captain who died in 1999.
Mr. Beard was appointed to the California Commission on Aging by Govs. George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners and a past president of Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club. He belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans and the Air Force Security Police Association.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors honored him in 1988 for his volunteer work. He also received a 1996 California Community Service Award from Kentucky Fried Chicken and was named outstanding citizen by Foothill-Highlands Rotary Club.
Mr. Beard was a Citrus Heights resident for 39 years. He lived at a Folsom senior apartment complex before settling in Texas to be with a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Craig Reuter.
Despite a military career that took him around the world, he was at heart a country boy who enjoyed fishing and telling colorful stories about his youth. He spoke about how his generation endured hard times during the Depression, but he never complained about his own life.
"He was always a super-positive person," Bonita Davis said. "Whenever you asked him how he was doing, even if he'd had a bad day, he'd say, 'I'm fine. I'm doing just fine.' "
Published online
Published in the Sacramento Bee May 29, 2011
Lonnie Beard, who served his country as a military veteran of three wars and helped feed the hungry as a founding member of Senior Gleaners, died May 8. He was 91.
He died in his sleep in San Antonio, where he moved in 2008, said his daughter Bonita Davis.
Shaped by hard times, Mr. Beard devoted his life to helping others. During the Great Depression, he left school to work in the Civilian Conservation Corps to support his family. He fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, where he set up an orphanage. He volunteered with the Red Cross, raised money for Shriners hospitals and was active in veterans groups.
Mr. Beard was a founding member and a longtime guiding force for Senior Gleaners, a nonprofit group that collects food for charitable groups. He served six terms as president and 25 years on the board of directors.
"I've committed my life to helping the Gleaners," he told The Bee in 1993. "I come from Mississippi. My dad was a sharecropper. I know what it is to be poor and needy."
Born in 1920, Lonnie Iron Beard grew up in a family of five children in Columbus, Miss. He joined the Army in 1940, transferred to the Air Force in 1946 and rose to the rank of senior master sergeant in the Air Police.
In 1967, while guarding U-2 spy planes, he was accidentally exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant. He suffered debilitating injuries and received a medical disability discharge in 1972 at Mather Air Force Base.
Mr. Beard had four children with his wife of 60 years, the former Eloise Dixon, who died in 2001. He was predeceased by a daughter, Joyce, who died at 18 months; and son Lonnie Jr., a former Sacramento County sheriff's captain who died in 1999.
Mr. Beard was appointed to the California Commission on Aging by Govs. George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners and a past president of Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club. He belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans and the Air Force Security Police Association.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors honored him in 1988 for his volunteer work. He also received a 1996 California Community Service Award from Kentucky Fried Chicken and was named outstanding citizen by Foothill-Highlands Rotary Club.
Mr. Beard was a Citrus Heights resident for 39 years. He lived at a Folsom senior apartment complex before settling in Texas to be with a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Craig Reuter.
Despite a military career that took him around the world, he was at heart a country boy who enjoyed fishing and telling colorful stories about his youth. He spoke about how his generation endured hard times during the Depression, but he never complained about his own life.
"He was always a super-positive person," Bonita Davis said. "Whenever you asked him how he was doing, even if he'd had a bad day, he'd say, 'I'm fine. I'm doing just fine.' "
Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Lonnie "Papaw" Beard passed away in his sleep on Sunday May 8, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born February 4, 1920 in Louisville, Mississippi, grew up in Columbus, Mississippi and settled near Sacramento, California in 1961. He had been in San Antonio for the past three years under the care of his daughter Betty and husband Craig Reuter. Lonnie was a three war veteran, serving in WWII, the Korean War, and two tours in Vietnam for a total of 32 years in the Army and Air Force, retiring in 1972. He was involved with the Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club in California and served a term as president. Lonnie was one of the founding members and provided long term leadership of Senior Gleaners, an organization tasked with feeding needy seniors and others in the Sacramento area. Then, he was appointed to the board of directors of the California Commission on Aging by three different governors. He was also a member of the Air Force Security Police Association. Lonnie gave of himself to his country, his community and his family. He will be remembered for his tenacity and professionalism at work, his caring and empathy for others in his volunteer work, his wisdom and love when interacting with family, and his care free attitude when he played. He loved to fish and collect gadgets of all sorts. Lonnie was always generous and had a positive attitude when dealing with any issue. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eloise, who he married in 1941, his daughter Joyce, and his son Lonnie. He is survived by his daughter Betty and her husband Craig Reuter of San Antonio, daughter Bonita and her husband John Davis of Folsom, California and his son's surviving wife Judy Beard of Citrus Heights, California. He is also survived by grandchildren Dean and Scott Reuter, Joyce, Jennifer and Jason Davis, Amy Hennings, with great grandchildren Robyn Reuter, Marley Davis and Malia Hennings, a cousin Henry "Pump" Beard and nephews Neil, Wayne, Lonnie and Bobby Beard and Eugene Carson, niece and Christine Calloway and then grand nephews/nieces Jerry Wayne Beard, Todd Glusenkamp, Carol Ann Stafford and Karen Sullivan and all their extended families. He will be missed by all who knew him. We cannot express our respect and gratitude enough for the wonderful care provided by Hospice Compassus over the past three months and would encourage donations to them in lieu of any gifts or flowers at 4204 Woodcock Dr. San Antonio, TX 78228. Betty and Craig will open their home on Saturday May 14, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm for visitors and a memorial, and similarly, Bonita and John will have a memorial at their home in Folsom on June 4, 2011.
Published online
Published in the Sacramento Bee May 29, 2011
Lonnie Beard, who served his country as a military veteran of three wars and helped feed the hungry as a founding member of Senior Gleaners, died May 8. He was 91.
He died in his sleep in San Antonio, where he moved in 2008, said his daughter Bonita Davis.
Shaped by hard times, Mr. Beard devoted his life to helping others. During the Great Depression, he left school to work in the Civilian Conservation Corps to support his family. He fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, where he set up an orphanage. He volunteered with the Red Cross, raised money for Shriners hospitals and was active in veterans groups.
Mr. Beard was a founding member and a longtime guiding force for Senior Gleaners, a nonprofit group that collects food for charitable groups. He served six terms as president and 25 years on the board of directors.
"I've committed my life to helping the Gleaners," he told The Bee in 1993. "I come from Mississippi. My dad was a sharecropper. I know what it is to be poor and needy."
Born in 1920, Lonnie Iron Beard grew up in a family of five children in Columbus, Miss. He joined the Army in 1940, transferred to the Air Force in 1946 and rose to the rank of senior master sergeant in the Air Police.
In 1967, while guarding U-2 spy planes, he was accidentally exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant. He suffered debilitating injuries and received a medical disability discharge in 1972 at Mather Air Force Base.
Mr. Beard had four children with his wife of 60 years, the former Eloise Dixon, who died in 2001. He was predeceased by a daughter, Joyce, who died at 18 months; and son Lonnie Jr., a former Sacramento County sheriff's captain who died in 1999.
Mr. Beard was appointed to the California Commission on Aging by Govs. George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners and a past president of Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club. He belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans and the Air Force Security Police Association.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors honored him in 1988 for his volunteer work. He also received a 1996 California Community Service Award from Kentucky Fried Chicken and was named outstanding citizen by Foothill-Highlands Rotary Club.
Mr. Beard was a Citrus Heights resident for 39 years. He lived at a Folsom senior apartment complex before settling in Texas to be with a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Craig Reuter.
Despite a military career that took him around the world, he was at heart a country boy who enjoyed fishing and telling colorful stories about his youth. He spoke about how his generation endured hard times during the Depression, but he never complained about his own life.
"He was always a super-positive person," Bonita Davis said. "Whenever you asked him how he was doing, even if he'd had a bad day, he'd say, 'I'm fine. I'm doing just fine.' "
Published online
Published in the Sacramento Bee May 29, 2011
Lonnie Beard, who served his country as a military veteran of three wars and helped feed the hungry as a founding member of Senior Gleaners, died May 8. He was 91.
He died in his sleep in San Antonio, where he moved in 2008, said his daughter Bonita Davis.
Shaped by hard times, Mr. Beard devoted his life to helping others. During the Great Depression, he left school to work in the Civilian Conservation Corps to support his family. He fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, where he set up an orphanage. He volunteered with the Red Cross, raised money for Shriners hospitals and was active in veterans groups.
Mr. Beard was a founding member and a longtime guiding force for Senior Gleaners, a nonprofit group that collects food for charitable groups. He served six terms as president and 25 years on the board of directors.
"I've committed my life to helping the Gleaners," he told The Bee in 1993. "I come from Mississippi. My dad was a sharecropper. I know what it is to be poor and needy."
Born in 1920, Lonnie Iron Beard grew up in a family of five children in Columbus, Miss. He joined the Army in 1940, transferred to the Air Force in 1946 and rose to the rank of senior master sergeant in the Air Police.
In 1967, while guarding U-2 spy planes, he was accidentally exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant. He suffered debilitating injuries and received a medical disability discharge in 1972 at Mather Air Force Base.
Mr. Beard had four children with his wife of 60 years, the former Eloise Dixon, who died in 2001. He was predeceased by a daughter, Joyce, who died at 18 months; and son Lonnie Jr., a former Sacramento County sheriff's captain who died in 1999.
Mr. Beard was appointed to the California Commission on Aging by Govs. George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners and a past president of Ben Ali Bedouins Shrine Club. He belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans and the Air Force Security Police Association.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors honored him in 1988 for his volunteer work. He also received a 1996 California Community Service Award from Kentucky Fried Chicken and was named outstanding citizen by Foothill-Highlands Rotary Club.
Mr. Beard was a Citrus Heights resident for 39 years. He lived at a Folsom senior apartment complex before settling in Texas to be with a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Craig Reuter.
Despite a military career that took him around the world, he was at heart a country boy who enjoyed fishing and telling colorful stories about his youth. He spoke about how his generation endured hard times during the Depression, but he never complained about his own life.
"He was always a super-positive person," Bonita Davis said. "Whenever you asked him how he was doing, even if he'd had a bad day, he'd say, 'I'm fine. I'm doing just fine.' "
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