Dean O. Beck

YORK - Dean O. Beck, 80, died early Thursday morning, January 8, 2009 at York Hospital. He was the husband of Barbara (Childress) Beck with whom he celebrated a 52nd wedding anniversary on July 22nd. Viewing will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 1551 Kenneth Rd., York and 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church 839 W. Market St., York. A Celebration of Life Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with his pastors, the Rev. Kevin T. Shively and the Rev. Diane G. Wenthe officiating. Burial with military honors by the York County Veterans Honor Guard will be in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens. Special honors will also be presented by the York City Fire Fighters. Mr. Beck was born July 22, 1928, in York. He was the son of the late Harry Dean Beck, Jr. and Florence Katherine (Latshaw) Beck. He was a Firefighter with the York City Fire Department retiring in 1984 after 26 years of service. Following his retirement from fire fighting, Mr. Beck went on to work with the United States Postal Service in York for an additional 8 years, retiring in 1992. He was a 1947 graduate of William Penn Senior High School. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and the Christian Friends Sunday School Class #5. He also served on the church's property committee, was a former coach for the church's softball team, and was a member of the Lutheran Men's Club of York County. He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War, receiving the Purple Heart, and had been held as a prisoner of war for 28 months. He was a member of the American Ex-POW's, the Disabled American Veterans, the Korean War Veterans, the Richard Gross Post #8896 Veterans of Foreign Wars, East Berlin and the Shiloh American Legion Post #791. He was a member of the Union Fire & Hose Co. # 1 in Dover and was a life-member of the Lincoln Engine Co. #9. He was also a former coach with Tri-Town Football. Mr. Beck enjoyed his church, his family, hunting, and caring for his rose bushes. In addition to his wife, Mr. Beck leaves his four children, Rebecca L. Grim of Red Lion, Michael D. Beck and wife, Kathi of Dover, Guy C. Beck and wife, Annette J. of Windsor, and Karen S. Hale and husband, Michael of York; eight grandchildren, Morgan and Casey Grim of Red Lion, Anthony Beck of York, Kristen and Jonathan Forrester of Dover, Ian and Benjamin Propst of Windsor, Alan Hale of York; and two brothers, Martin L. Beck and Gilbert W. Beck, both of York. He was preceded in death by a brother, Clifton H. Beck and a sister, Elizabeth Kay Flinchbaugh. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St., York, PA 17401.