Charles E Beck

Charles Beck passed away peacefully on October 3rd, 2015, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, age 91.  He is survived by his daughters, Diane Louise Beck and Michelle Gretchen Beck, son Gary Eugene Beck, sister LaVera Louetta Henderson, grandchildren Carter Clemment Beck and Bailey Jeane Beck, daughter-in-law, Tracey Bailey-Beck, and son-in-law, Dennis O’Neil.  His wife, Jeane Lila Hart-Beck preceded him in 2007.

Charles was born January 22, 1924 to Clara Gilley and Charles Clinton Beck in Kinsley Kansas, where he was raised, baptized in the Christian Church, and raised to a Master Mason in the St. Bernard Lodge.  During World War II he was commissioned as an officer of the Army Air Corps and bombardier of a B-29.  He married Jeane Lila Hart in 1942 and after the war attended The University of Wichita where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.  He then earned an MBA degree from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Marketing from New York University, where he also taught Marketing and Business Strategy.  Charles’s business career spanned 40 years, from Salesman for the Quaker Oats Company, to Director of New Products for American Can Company, to Marketing Director for the James River Company.  While at American Can Company he and great friend Paul Mathias won the coveted Cleo Award for best-in-class television advertising in 1969. Charles and Jeane were active with their children in scouting, little-league baseball, and the Presbyterian Church.

Charles and Jeane retired to San Pedro, California in 1995 to be near their children and grandchildren. Charles continued to teach business marketing at the University of Phoenix in Los Angeles until 2004.  During retirement, he initiated a successful anti-gang program at a San Pedro public grade school, for which he was publically recognized.

For his family he was faithful and an unswerving provider, with a resolute standard of honor, kindness and responsibility.  He was in sound health until 2012 when he suffered a broken hip and a stroke.

He is laid to rest with his wife Jeane (1924-2007) and their son Richard (1945-1963) at the Hillside Cemetery in Kinsley, Kansas, commended back to his creator by his Masonic brothers.

Rest in peace.