Lewis Hamilton Beck

Lewis Hamilton Beck, 93, of Bentonville, Ark., died Monday, March 18, 2013, at Circle of Life in Springdale, Ark. He was born June 26, 1919, in Bentonville to Arlie Beck and Mattie Hamilton Beck. Lewis attended Bentonville schools and graduated from Bentonville High School in 1938. He worked for the United States Post Office in Bentonville for 33 years and retired as the Postmaster in 1977. He proudly served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a 1st lieutenant, and was a B-25 bomber pilot in the 11th Bombardment Squadron of the 14th Air Force in the China-Burma-India Theater. He spent 1944 in China flying missions against Japanese forces. Lewis was wounded on his last mission on Sept. 4, 1944, for which he received the Purple Heart medal. He was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Bentonville for over 83 years. As a lifelong Bentonville resident, he was regarded by many as a "living history book" for the area. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Alberta Mae Allred Beck in 2001; brother, Arlie Beck; and sister, Betty White. Lewis is survived by two sons, Allen Beck and wife, Marsha, of Bentonville, David Beck and wife, Brandee, of Dallas, Texas; one daughter, Marsha Garrison and husband, Greg, of Yardley, Pa.; eight grandchildren, Kimberly Murphy, Ashley Hickman, Justin Beck, Brett Garrison, Spencer Garrison, Bolt Beck, Jet Beck, Sawyer Wren Beck; six great-grandchildren, Maddison Murphy, Kennedy Murphy, Turner Murphy, Hamilton Hickman, Beck Hickman and Emerson Beck. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in Bentonville, with the Rev. David Ruehr officiating. There will be a time of fellowship with the family immediately following the service. Private burial will be in Benton County Memorial Park Cemetery in Rogers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Lewis Beck to First United Methodist Church, 201 NW 2nd St., Bentonville, AR 72712; or to the Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203-9984. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services. Words of comfort may be expressed or memories shared at stockdalefuneral.com.