Paul A. “Bud” Beech, 84, Iola, passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at Olathe Medical Center.
Paul was born July 31, 1931, in St. Paul, the son of George and Ruth (Smith) Beech. He grew up in the Walnut area and graduated from Walnut High School in 1948. Bud served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years. He was self-employed after retiring from the postal service and has resided in Iola since 1960.
Paul was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola, and the V.F.W. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.
On May 24, 1972, Paul married Margaret J. “Peg” Diskin, who survives. Other survivors include his six children, Bill Beech, Iola, Catherina Kelly, Lenexa, Mark Carroll, Pratt, Steve Carroll, Richmond, Mo., Charlotte Smardo, Kansas City, Mo., and John Carroll, Goddard; three siblings, Wayne Beech and Max Beech, both of Chanute, and Evelyn Dunham, Manhattan; 13 grandchildren, Jed Beech, Dillon Beech, Kyleen Kelly, Erin Kelly, Daniel Potter, Kristi Holland, Adam Carroll, Marcy Carroll, Molly Carroll, Kyle Carroll, Peter Smardo, Charlie Smardo and Maggie Smardo; and five grea-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Jennifer Carroll.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. The funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola, with burial to follow in Highland Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Iola Public Library and may be left with the funeral home. To leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.