Sep 17, 2013 3 min read

On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, a true patriot was called into God’s hands. Winfred H. Beckwith, 74, quietly, peacefully slipped away after a long battle with cancer.

Born on February 17, 1939 in Pennsylvania to the late James and Hester Beckwith, Winfred (known to most as ‘Beck’ and to the ladies as ‘Honey’) led a life full of excitement, fun, hard work, and dedication. An outstanding athlete in football and basketball in high school, he was inducted into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame and was a life member.

In 1958 Beck enlisted in the US Army, he later transferred to the US Air Force. After proudly serving 22 years, 6 months and 28 days, he honorably retired from the Armed Services.

His loyalty to this country and its citizens did not end with this retirement. After working a myriad of jobs, he proudly worked for the US Army at Fort Monroe, Va., serving numerous officers and working for our soldiers as a civil servant. He retired from Fort Monroe in 1999. His love for this country continued with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, becoming a life member and the Commander 3 times of VFW Post 3219 in Phoebus, Va. He was also the District 1 Commander for the VFW, Department of Virginia. Continuing in the patriotic mode, Beck served on the Hampton Military Affairs Committee where he provided valuable input to the functions and activities of the community of veterans in the Hampton area.

Wherever Beck was, he brought smiles, laughter and a love for life. His wit and devotion to his family and his country could never be shaken. He will be sorely missed.

Left to cherish his memories and his love are his wife, Lorraine (Laine); his daughter, Tina Beckwith; two sons, Timothy Beckwith and James Beckwith; two grandchildren, Sydney Beckwith and Jayden Beckwith; two sisters, Elizabeth Walton and Sylvia Ramsey, both of Uniontown, Pa.; one brother, Robert Beckwith of California and a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, cousins, and friends.

Preceding him in death were his two brothers, James Beckwith and Wilbert Beckwith and three sisters Evelyn Giles, Margaret Love, and Flo Snyder.

Friends will be received at the LANTZ FUNERAL HOME, 297 E. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. on Thursday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the hour of service. Interment will follow immediately in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, Pa.

All condolences and flowers may be sent through http://www.lantzfh.com/.