ILION - Warren E. Beckwith, age 94, formerly of Ilion, passed away on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, at Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare, New Hartford. He had been a resident of the Masonic Care Community, Utica.
He was born on July 27, 1918, in Ilion, the son of Arthur and Ella (Kinne) Beckwith. Warren graduated from Ilion High School, attended Clarkson College, and completed his education at Lincoln Extension Institute. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Army. On August 11, 1951, he was married to Ruth Marion Wright, in Ilion. She died on September 21, 1997. Warren was employed as an engineer-draftsman at Sperry Rand Univac in Ilion and Utica for twenty-three years, retiring in 1973. He was a member and past Master of the Olive Branch Lodge # 40 Free and Accepted Masons. Warren was also a member of the DAV and AARP.
Survivors include his two daughters and son-in-law, Barbara and Albert Kirchhoff, of Papillion, NE, and Ruth Beckwith, of Barneveld, WI; five grandchildren, Michael and Heidi Brink, of Bellevue, NE, Melissa Brink, of Chico, CA, Juli and Jerry Earley, of Austin, TX, and Darren Kirchhoff and Cameron Kirchhoff, both of Odessa, TX; three great-granddaughters; two nieces; three nephews; and several cousins. He was predeceased by his sister, Evelyn, in 1974, and his brother Herbert, in 2005.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 31, 2012, at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Rd., Ilion, with Rabbi Albert Kirchhoff and Rev. David Zoeckler, officiating. Burial will be in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion.
Calling hours are Sunday, December 30, 2012, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
A Masonic service will be held by the Olive Branch Lodge # 40 F & AM, on Sunday, December 30, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Anyone wishing to share a memory of Warren, or add to his online memorial, may go to
www.applegateandday.com
on the Internet.
In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Donation envelopes are available at the funeral home.
The Beckwith family has entrusted all funeral and burial arrangements to their family Funeral Director, Don Applegate.