- Date Of Birth: March 31, 1923
- Date Of Death: June 30, 2017
- State: Colorado
Florence Beeler, devoted wife, mother and grandma, died peacefully in Denver at 5:30 PM, June 30, with her loving daughter, Susan Beeler Kreutzer and son-in-law, Rick by her side. She was 94 years old. Florence was born on March 31, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio and was one of four children born to John and Lucy DeCrescenzo. Her father was an Italian immigrant, and was a hard working brick mason who won the Purple Heart and the Silver Star in World War I. She moved to Del Mar, California in 1950 with her parents. Eventually, she worked for the Screen Actors Guild as an assistant under the leadership of then actor Ronald Reagan. After a short courtship, she married aeronautical engineer De Elroy Beeler who was destined to be the director of NASA’s Flight Research Center and was on the team at Edwards Air Force Base that broke the sound barrier with Chuck Yeager in 1947. Florence and De lived amongst the Antelope Valley community of scientists and test pilots depicted in the 1993 movie, “The Right Stuff”. While living in Lancaster, California, Florence volunteered at Antelope Valley Hospital and was a member of the Alpha Charter Guild and the Assistance League. She enjoyed bridge and golf and was a fabulous cook; however, her greatest joy was in being a wife and mother. Her children Susan and Rusty were born during exciting times on the high desert.
