Ojai Valley News
May 17, 2002
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett, 87, of Ojai, died Friday, May 10, 2002. He was born Sept. 27, 1914, in Coquille, Ore., and had been a resident of Ojai for 54 years.
His parents had traveled from Colorado with his mother driving a horse-led covered wagon. The family moved several times, and during his junior year in high school moved from Las Vegas to Ventura, where his parents owned and operated the Pierpont Inn and El Nido Hotel. He played football while attending Ventura College.
He spent much of World War II serving under General George S. Patton in the European campaign. He was a member of the famous 244th Field Artillery Battalion, which landed on Utah Beach in the D-day invasion of Normandy, fought and succeeded in the Battle of the Bulge, and under Patton, was part of the lead Army into the final drive into Germany.
Following World War II, Mr. Beckett returned to Ventura and spent the next 41 years working at the Shell Oil Refinery there. In 1948, he and his wife, Juanita, and daughter Bonnie moved to the Ojai Valley.
He was known by many in the valley as the "Johnny Appleseed" of the Matilija poppy, where every October he and friends would scatter seeds and pods to increase the stands of the flower. He was also known as the "Balloon Man," providing balloons for many years during the Ojai Band's summer performances.
His interests included the natural assets of the Ojai Valley and its creatures, storytelling and collecting gadgets.
Mr. Beckett is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Beckett Keeley and son-in-law Richard D. Keeley of Foster City, Calif.; sister Hellen Swanson of Temecula, Calif; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Beckett, older brother Ted Beckett and sister Alta Beckett.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
The family requests that any donations be made to Help of Ojai, Inc., P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
May 17, 2002
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett, 87, of Ojai, died Friday, May 10, 2002. He was born Sept. 27, 1914, in Coquille, Ore., and had been a resident of Ojai for 54 years.
His parents had traveled from Colorado with his mother driving a horse-led covered wagon. The family moved several times, and during his junior year in high school moved from Las Vegas to Ventura, where his parents owned and operated the Pierpont Inn and El Nido Hotel. He played football while attending Ventura College.
He spent much of World War II serving under General George S. Patton in the European campaign. He was a member of the famous 244th Field Artillery Battalion, which landed on Utah Beach in the D-day invasion of Normandy, fought and succeeded in the Battle of the Bulge, and under Patton, was part of the lead Army into the final drive into Germany.
Following World War II, Mr. Beckett returned to Ventura and spent the next 41 years working at the Shell Oil Refinery there. In 1948, he and his wife, Juanita, and daughter Bonnie moved to the Ojai Valley.
He was known by many in the valley as the "Johnny Appleseed" of the Matilija poppy, where every October he and friends would scatter seeds and pods to increase the stands of the flower. He was also known as the "Balloon Man," providing balloons for many years during the Ojai Band's summer performances.
His interests included the natural assets of the Ojai Valley and its creatures, storytelling and collecting gadgets.
Mr. Beckett is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Beckett Keeley and son-in-law Richard D. Keeley of Foster City, Calif.; sister Hellen Swanson of Temecula, Calif; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Beckett, older brother Ted Beckett and sister Alta Beckett.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
The family requests that any donations be made to Help of Ojai, Inc., P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Ojai Valley News
May 17, 2002
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett, 87, of Ojai, died Friday, May 10, 2002. He was born Sept. 27, 1914, in Coquille, Ore., and had been a resident of Ojai for 54 years.
His parents had traveled from Colorado with his mother driving a horse-led covered wagon. The family moved several times, and during his junior year in high school moved from Las Vegas to Ventura, where his parents owned and operated the Pierpont Inn and El Nido Hotel. He played football while attending Ventura College.
He spent much of World War II serving under General George S. Patton in the European campaign. He was a member of the famous 244th Field Artillery Battalion, which landed on Utah Beach in the D-day invasion of Normandy, fought and succeeded in the Battle of the Bulge, and under Patton, was part of the lead Army into the final drive into Germany.
Following World War II, Mr. Beckett returned to Ventura and spent the next 41 years working at the Shell Oil Refinery there. In 1948, he and his wife, Juanita, and daughter Bonnie moved to the Ojai Valley.
He was known by many in the valley as the "Johnny Appleseed" of the Matilija poppy, where every October he and friends would scatter seeds and pods to increase the stands of the flower. He was also known as the "Balloon Man," providing balloons for many years during the Ojai Band's summer performances.
His interests included the natural assets of the Ojai Valley and its creatures, storytelling and collecting gadgets.
Mr. Beckett is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Beckett Keeley and son-in-law Richard D. Keeley of Foster City, Calif.; sister Hellen Swanson of Temecula, Calif; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Beckett, older brother Ted Beckett and sister Alta Beckett.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
The family requests that any donations be made to Help of Ojai, Inc., P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
May 17, 2002
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett
Elmer Allen "Beck" Beckett, 87, of Ojai, died Friday, May 10, 2002. He was born Sept. 27, 1914, in Coquille, Ore., and had been a resident of Ojai for 54 years.
His parents had traveled from Colorado with his mother driving a horse-led covered wagon. The family moved several times, and during his junior year in high school moved from Las Vegas to Ventura, where his parents owned and operated the Pierpont Inn and El Nido Hotel. He played football while attending Ventura College.
He spent much of World War II serving under General George S. Patton in the European campaign. He was a member of the famous 244th Field Artillery Battalion, which landed on Utah Beach in the D-day invasion of Normandy, fought and succeeded in the Battle of the Bulge, and under Patton, was part of the lead Army into the final drive into Germany.
Following World War II, Mr. Beckett returned to Ventura and spent the next 41 years working at the Shell Oil Refinery there. In 1948, he and his wife, Juanita, and daughter Bonnie moved to the Ojai Valley.
He was known by many in the valley as the "Johnny Appleseed" of the Matilija poppy, where every October he and friends would scatter seeds and pods to increase the stands of the flower. He was also known as the "Balloon Man," providing balloons for many years during the Ojai Band's summer performances.
His interests included the natural assets of the Ojai Valley and its creatures, storytelling and collecting gadgets.
Mr. Beckett is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Beckett Keeley and son-in-law Richard D. Keeley of Foster City, Calif.; sister Hellen Swanson of Temecula, Calif; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Beckett, older brother Ted Beckett and sister Alta Beckett.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
The family requests that any donations be made to Help of Ojai, Inc., P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
