- Date Of Birth: April 16, 1929
- Date Of Death: February 17, 2014
- State: Illinois
Robert L. Beard, 84, of Jacksonville, IL died Monday, February 17, 2014 at Heritage Health in Jacksonville.
He was born April 16, 1929 in Christian County, IL, the son of James Ralph and Mary Emma Garmon Beard. He married Violet Louise Davis on June 3, 1949 in Jacksonville and she preceded him in death on April 26, 2004.
He is survived by a daughter, Linda Stanberry (husband, Gary) of Champaign; three sons, James “Jim” Beard of St. Joseph, Joel Beard (wife, Tabitha) of Lincoln, and Noel Beard (wife, Kathleen) of Jacksonville; eight grandchildren, Christine Hanlin of Heyworth, Matthew Stanberry (wife, Aimee) of Portland, OR, Zachariah Stanberry (wife, Tabitha) of Wonder Lake, Robert James Beard of Lincoln, Samantha Ann Beard of Lincoln, Braydon Laubenstein of Lincoln, Erica Beard of Jacksonville, and Lydia Beard of Jacksonville; ten great grandchildren, Emily, Gabe and A.J. Hanlin of Heyworth, Bryce, Mattie and Leah Stanberry of Portland, OR, and Mackenzie, Zoe, Josephine and Hadassa Stanberry of Wonder Lake; two sisters, Opal Lightle of Bozeman, MT and Sharon Harrell (husband, Billie Joe) of Franklin; two brothers, Russell Beard (wife, Mary Lynn) of Acworth, GA and Leonard Beard of Maitland, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James R. Beard and Mary Emma Beard Bland Hayn and a brother, Ralph E. Beard.
Mr. Beard was a 1948 graduate of Jacksonville High School and was briefly employed at Beard Implement in Arenzville and Johnson Grain Company in Literberry prior to beginning his career as a printer and typesetter. He worked for the Jacksonville Journal-Courier from 1952 to 1968 and for Branstiter Printing from 1969 to 1985. He later worked in maintenance with Applebee Farms. During his retirement, he operated Beard’s Custom Printing and Rubber Stamps from his home.
He was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville and was involved with the Macedonia Ministries of the American Baptist Church and Christian Marriage Ministries of Central Illinois. He served as treasurer of the Typographical Union for a number of years and held memberships in the Jacksonville Sportsman’s Club where he was known for his cooking expertise and the Tri-County Woodworkers Club. In his spare time, he enjoyed camping and trout fishing in Missouri.
