Samuel R. Beal

ADRIAN – Samuel R. Beal, 96, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, December 20, 2014, at Grand Court under the supportive care of Hospice of Lenawee. Sam was born at home on Scott Street in Adrian, the son of Samuel Roy Beal Sr. and B. Hazel (Furbush) Beal. He was a graduate of Adrian High School class of 1936 and attended Adrian College. He married Betty Squires in 1940 and from that union Kathie and Connie were born. Betty died in 1955. In 1956 Sam married JoAn Eberts, who brought to that union Bill, making their family of 5 complete. He often said he was fortunate to have had two wonderful wives. He and JoAn were married 57 years before her death in 2013. Sam proudly served his country in the US Navy as a physical education instructor for new recruits, stationed at Cornell University during WWII. His service connected him to the American Legion Post 97 where he had been a member since 1947 and earned him Honorary Life Membership. He started his working career at American Chain and Cable in the purchasing department. He took a bold step leaving that job to start his own business, Beal Supply Company, in the family garage. Through the years, with hard work, the business grew requiring a change of locations several times. He and JoAn took another leap of faith, sold the business, and bought a hardware store in Manchester. They opened a second hardware store in Tecumseh before retiring to spend many years in the Gulf Breeze area of northern Florida. Always active, Sam enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing cards, traveling with JoAn on many Elderhostel trips and he especially loved to play golf. He could recount shots and scores hole by hole, including a hole-in-one. He volunteered alongside JoAn at church dinners, hospitals and with Kiwanis, serving that organization as a past president. Over the years Sam was active in several churches, including Christ Episcopal Church in Adrian where he was senior warden when the new church was built on Riverside Avenue following the fire that destroyed the original church located on the SE corner of Maumee and Broad Street. He was also active in The United Church of Christ in Manchester, St. Francis of Assisi in Florida and Adrian First United Methodist Church. Sam’s proudest accomplishment was his family. He is survived by his children Kathie (Bill) Essex of McCormick SC; Connie (Steve) Benz of Adrian and Bill Beal of Blacksburg VA. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Sean (Kim), Wendy (James), Todd (Vivine), Matthew (Erika), Noah (Vanessa), Jeanne (Santino), Maggie, Colin and ten great grandchildren; a sister-in-law Jean Eberts, and a brother-in-law George Parkinson. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tom, sister Hattie, daughter-in-law Linda (McCartney) Beal and his wives Betty and JoAn. Sam’s family would like to thank the staff of Grand Court, ComForcare, and Hospice of Lenawee, especially Elizabeth, Heidi and Gretchen. Their care and support allowed Dad to live his life to the fullest. That life was enriched at Grand Court by his special friend Eloise and his other tablemates, Art, Mary, Bob and Shirley. A memorial celebration of Sam’s long and full life will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2015 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Christopher Brundage officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Contributions in memory of Sam may be made to the Adrian Schools Educational Foundation or Hospice of Lenawee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home where online condolences are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Samuel R. Beal

July 15, 1918 - December 20, 2014