Mr. Edward Raymond Beck

Edward Raymond "Ed" Beck of Berrett died Thursday, February 12, 2015 at home. Born April 16, 1929, in Berrett, Carroll County, he was the son of Charles Raymond and Margaret Dorsey Beck. He was the husband of Miriam Freter Beck, his wife of 57 years. Born into farm life, he began milking cows at age six and driving a tractor at age eight. He worked on the farm through his school years graduating from Sykesville High School in 1946. Tired of farm life he enlisted in the Army in 1954. Following training in Manual Morse Code Interception he served in the Army Security Agency in Berlin, Germany intercepting coded messages sent from Communist countries. Following his discharge in 1957, he was employed by the Arundel Corporation in Baltimore. At retirement in 1990, he was Operations Manager of Aggregates Production overseeing gravel, stone, and sand plants throughout Maryland. Throughout his life he was an avid hunter, trap shooter, and lover of nature. Fishing and boating at the family retreat in Ozark County, Missouri were prized vacation activities since 1972. Family always gave him pleasure, especially the musical events in which his daughters and grandchildren performed. In retirement, golfing and vegetable gardening were enjoyable pastimes as well as responding to family needs with his ability to repair, improve and even invent. From birth he attended Messiah Lutheran Church next door to his family home and one which his grandparents and great grandparents helped found. He was confirmed there in 1943. He served on the Church Council, the Property Committee, as Treasurer, and in his youth dug graves to earn extra spending money. For the last twenty five years he had been a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Jenel and Mirrel, their husbands Wayne Witzke and Jeffrey Wothers, and two grandchildren Timothy and Zellie Wothers. Surviving nieces and nephews are Wayne Weller and wife Darleen, Donald Beck, Jr. and wife Darlene, Robert Beck and wife Linda, Eva Hendrix and husband Brin, Charlotte Jay, Ursula Standifer, Lorna Dorn and husband Edward and Joan Cole and husband Charles. He was predeceased by a sister, Madalyn Weller and husband Donald and a brother, Donald Beck and wife Edith. Friends may gather at the Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville on Sunday, February 15, from 1 to 4pm. A celebration of Resurrection will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, MD 21157 on Monday, February 16, at 10:30 am with his pastors, The Reverends Kevin and Martha Clementson officiating. The family will greet friends at a reception following the service at the church. In keeping with his wishes there will be no viewing. At a later date his ashes will be distributed on the property he had lived on most of his life. This statement reflects his feelings: "I came from the earth, and I want to return to the earth." In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street., Westminster, MD 21157, Carroll Hospital Center Foundation, 200 Memorial Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157 or to a charity of your choice.

Mr. Edward Raymond Beck

April 16, 1929 - February 12, 2015