Dick Beight

East Palestine-April 22, 2009-Claude "Dick" Beight, 90, of 720 Alice Street, died Wednesday morning at his home following a six month illness.

Mr. Beight was born March 7, 1919 in East Palestine, a son of Claude Wilson and Eva Neil Beight and had lived in this area all of his life.

He was a 1937 graduate of East Palestine High School. Dick then went to work for the former McCommon Hardware in East Palestine and served in the US Army during World War II with the 1st Calvary Division in the South Pacific. After being discharged from the Army, Dick returned to work at the hardware store where he remained until his retirement after 70 years of work.

Dick was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Canfield Lodge #155 and George F. McBane Post #31 American Legion. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and gardening. He loved to play pinochle with the boys and other card games with a host of wonderful friends.

He married Helen Ward in 1947 and she died in 1977. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Rosemary Thompson and a brother, Floyd Beight.

He is survived by his wife, the former Ferne Zimmerman Jackson, whom he married June 23, 1980; a daughter, Claudia (Jerry) Prayzac of Bradenton, FL; a son, Richard (Laura) Beight of East Palestine; a stepdaughter, Sammae (Paul) Schulz of Richmond, KY; a stepson, Roy Jackson of North Lima; a sister, Martha Jane (William) Williams of Canton; twelve grandchildren, Craig Beight, Korie Beight, Lee Beight, Ryan and Alyssa Henderson, Drs. Brittany and Paul Schulz, Jenny and Brad Dobrzynski, Jeff and Amy Jackson, David Jackson; and five great grandchildren, Haley Dobrzynski, Garrett Schulz, Kayla Beight, Elizabeth Jackson, and Madelyn Jackson.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Friday at the First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine with the Reverend Donald Aull officiating. Burial will follow in Glenview Cemetery where the combined group from the American Legion and VFW will accord military honors.

Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon at the church on Friday. Funeral arrangements are being made by the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the church or Senior Independence Hospice c/o 1001 Kingsmill Parkway Columbus, OH 43229