Thomas R. "Russ" Beam

Thomas R. "Russ" Beam, 82, of Lake City, died Sunday, December 12, 2010, at St. Vincent Health Center. He was born June 13, 1928, in Rockton, Pa., a son of the late Grover and Anna Harris Beam.

Following graduation from the Albion High School he enlisted in the U.S. Army and deployed to Japan where he served in the occupational forces following the ending of the hostilities of WWII. Upon his discharge from the Army he returned to the Cranesville area and began working as a mason. He later worked for the Holiday Meat Packing Co. in Erie, Parker White Metal (Now PHB Diecast), Orange County food service as a food catering driver in California and most recently had been employed by the Girard School District, where he worked in the maintenance dept. He was a well known bartender at Ralphies in Girard, where he worked as a second job for many years. He loved to read his western novels by Louis L'Amour and war stories of all the wars. As a young man he attended the Cranesville Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing all over the area and also loved teaching his grandchildren to fish (the proper way).

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Vida Ray, Phyllis Buzzard, Emmie Corneluis, Wanda Platz and Joann Spaulding; his brothers, Clayton, Pete, Bob and Doris "Jim" Beam; and grandchildren, Shannon and Jamie Sanders and Amanda Beam. Russ is survived by his wife of 60 years, Arlene Wilson Beam; two daughters, Linda A. Beam of Girard and Cheryl L. Sanders and her husband, Roger of Girard; four sons, Thomas W. Beam and his wife, Linda of East Springfield, Michael R. Beam and his wife, Susan of Girard, Douglas R. Beam and his wife, Kathy of Girard, and Scott W. Beam and his wife, Diane of Lake City; a brother, Clayton "Buck" Beam and his good friend, Elsie of Albion; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Daniel R. Edder Funeral Home, 309 Main St. East, Girard. Services will be held there on Thursday at 10 a.m. Memorials may be made to the A.F. Dobler Hose Co., 12 Mechanic St., Girard, PA 16417 or to the Lake City Fire Co., 2232 Rice Ave., Lake City, PA 16423.

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