| BECK, Frank E: 25 Apr 1912 - 2 Feb 2006
Source: online newspaper posting
Sapulpa Daily Herald, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, February 5, 2006
Frank E. Beck was born April 25, 1912 in Nemaha County, Kan. to Frank and Anna Elizabeth Beck. He was a retired educator and coach, coaching baseball, basketball and track. He received his bachelor of education degree at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He also received a master's degree in counseling and administrative education from Kansas State College at Emporia. He taught many years in Kansas before moving to Oklahoma in 1967. He also taught at Muskogee, Okmulgee and Bacone College before retiring in 1983. When he was about 13 years old, his grandfather, Amos Beck, who was a carpenter, moved to California to work on reconstruction after the earthquake. Later on Frank and his family followed them to California. They moved to San Francisco, and Frank got a job as a newspaper carrier for the San Francisco Call. Later the newspaper boys were told that if they got so many starts, they could play ball with Babe Ruth. He received the starts and went one afternoon to a park and sure enough there was Babe Ruth and about 10 other boys eagerly waiting. The Babe taught the boys how to hold the bat, throw the ball and how to slide. It was an awe-inspiring experience for Frank, and he later in life took great pride in saying he had played ball with Babe Ruth. Frank was an Oklahoma State President of the School Counselors Association, and he was nominated Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year in 1984. He served as an Oklahoma Silver Haired Senator in 1987. He received a plaque honoring his promotion of senior softball in Oklahoma. He organized, managed and played senior softball for 18 years. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed bowling, golf and softball. He participated in the Oklahoma Senior Olympics for 10 years. He won gold medals in softball, bowling, horseshoes, long jump, discus and shotput. He won bronze medals in the National Senior Olympics in the long jump and bowling. In 1993 he received the AT&T Silver Spirit Award for his part in promoting health and fitness activities for seniors. This award was presented to him by former astronaut Alan Shepard. In 1984, Frank married Doris M. Henry and moved to Sapulpa. He was a member of the First Christian Church and a member of the Builder's class. Frank is survived by: his wife, Doris M. Henry, of the home; three sons, Ralph Beck, of Overland Park, Kan., Glen Beck, of Silver Lake, Kan., and Earl Beck, of Oxnard, Calif.; one stepson, Del A. Henry, of Sapulpa; two stepdaughters, Gwen Richardson, of Escondido, Calif., and Sue Ann Cline, of Broken Arrow; and many grandchildren. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 at Green Hill Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gary Sheeley officiating. Entombment will follow at Green Hill Memorial Mausoleum. Honorary casketbearers will be Charles Baxter, Bill Williams, Bob Click and Darwin Eaton. The family has chosen to entrust the care of the services to the directors at Green Hill Funeral Home.
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