Dorothy Beckham

Dorothy Greene (Dottie) Beckham of Davidson died Feb. 13, 2010, at Deal Care in Mooresville. She was 89 years old. A service is planned Saturday at 3 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson.

Dottie was born June 1, 1920, in Rutherford County to Lewis T. and Myrtle Wilkie Greene. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ray, and her husband Joe H. Beckham Sr.

After graduation from Shelby High School she was employed by the US Civil Service, providing administrative support for the US military at Fort Benning, Ga., Mare Island Naval Base, and the Naval Air Station at Ford Field, Pearl Harbor.

Dottie loved the written word and used her skill at writing for several small newspapers, including The Clemmons Courier in the 1960s and The Dallas Post (Dallas, Pa.) in the early 1970s.  She retired as an executive secretary from Charlotte Pipe & Foundry with more than 20 years of service and had many close friends and co-workers there.

She obtained a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Queens University in Charlotte, graduating with honors.  In 1996, she was awarded an MLA from Winthrop University, again graduating with honors.  She was a member of Phi Alpha Theta Historical Honor Society.

Through her study and interests, she was considered an expert on the history of Russia’s state security operations up to the time of perestroika.  She was a dedicated student of life, the arts, history and literature.  She loved to travel and had friends in numerous countries.

She was a constant reader, a masterful bridge player, a mediocre golfer (her words), a loyal friend, and a loving mother and grandmother.  She was a woman of faith, conservative in her views, liberal in her love for her family and friends.

We shall all remember her laugh and her dedication to learning.  She is survived by her children, Bob Beckham (Donna) of Davidson; Joe Beckham, Jr. (Carol) of Easley, S.C.; Patricia Beckham of Southern Pines; three grandchildren, Kelsey Gritt (Brian) of Huntersville; Matt Beckham of Winston-Salem, Leslie Beckham of Charlotte; a great-granddaughter Libby Gritt; and a special friend Winnie Bryce.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Georgette Ormsby, Bernice Hosch and the staff at Deal Care for their kindness and dedication to her during the past three years.  Thanks also to Dr. Loveleen Barringer for her care and understanding.

A service to celebrate Dottie’s life will be held at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson on Feb. 20, 2010, at 3 p.m. with the Rev. David Buck officiating.

The family requests that memorials be made in her memory to St. Albans Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 970, Davidson, NC 28036.  Cavin-Cook in Mooresville is serving the Beckham family.