Ethel Pearl (Reiter) Beckmon, 93, Iola, passed away Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at Allen County Regional Hospital.
Ethel was the last surviving of nine children born to Winfield Scott Reiter and Lola Pearl (Crocker) Reiter. She was born Jan. 20, 1924, in Geneva. She grew up around the old County Line School area in Anderson County. On Jan. 23, 1944, she married Bill Nels Beckmon in Yates Center. They lived most of their lives in the Colony area until her husband died in January 1989. Ethel then moved to Iola, where she lived and worked at Walmart as a greeter for nearly 20 years. She received a Greeter of the Year award in 2003. Ethel was known and loved in her work at Walmart as a very compassionate person and for her “hugs.”
She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, a daughter, Rose Marie Samson, a granddaughter, Tammy Lynn Burcham, and a great-granddaughter, Aliyah Nadine Nicholas.
Survivors include her children, Mary Lou Scovill and husband Bob, Colony, Bill Beckmon and wife Cindy, Colony, and Randal Beckmon and wife Marsha, Kincaid; 12 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, and many other family members and friends who were well loved by her.
Her family will always remember her love of flowers and birds, good home-cooked meals, and her personal “Happy Birthday” song to all her kids on their special day.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday at the High Point Cowboy Church in Colony, located in the former funeral chapel. Burial will follow the service at Colony Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service in Iola. Contributions in her memory are suggested to The BARN, to be used for mission service. Condolences for her family can be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
Ethel Beckmon
