Waynesboro, Pa. - J. Edward "Ed" Beck, 81, formerly of 40 Eastland Circle, Waynesboro, died at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16, 2009, in Quincy United Methodist Home. Born Sept. 13, 1927, in Waynesboro, he was the only child of the late Lester E. and Margaret (Anders) Beck. He was a lifelong resident of the Waynesboro area. He and his wife, Dorothy (Flory) Beck, were married Oct. 31, 1947, in Christ United Methodist Church, Waynesboro. She died May 1, 1994. They moved to Eastland Circle in 1990 and Mr. Beck entered Quincy United Methodist Home for the second time Dec. 1, 2008. Mr. Beck attended Waynesboro schools and graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1945. Following training at Sheepshead Bay Maritime Training Center in New York, Mr. Beck served with the U.S. Merchant Marine escorting returning soldiers home from Europe following World War II, traveling to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, France and the Panama Canal. After completing his service, he went to work with his father at L.E. Beck and Son, a Greencastle pipe nipple manufacturing company, which also had operations in Atlanta, Ga. In 1963, he sold L.E. Beck and Son to Anvil Products, a Pittsburgh company, and became an Anvil vice president. He left Anvil and formed Beck Manufacturing Inc. with his sons in 1971, working with the company until his retirement. He also worked for his son, John Beck, at Green Arbor Flower and Shrubbery Center. Along with John L. Grove, Mr. Beck founded Falling Spring Corp. in 1965. The company that has owned and operated as many as five hotels in the Chambersburg and Hagerstown areas. Mr. Beck was a member of the First National Bank and Trust Co. board of directors for many years. He also served on the Waynesboro School District Authority during the 1970s when the school district constructed Summitview Elementary School, Waynesboro Area Middle School and Fairview Elementary School. He and his wife supported all their sons' athletic activities from elementary school through college. Mr. Beck served as a Little League and Pony League coach and was a strong supporter of the Waynesboro YMCA. Mr. Beck was a life member of the Mechanics SFE and Hose Inc., Waynesboro. He was a lifelong Redskins fan, his family having held season tickets since 1937. Mr. Beck was a member of Christ United Methodist Church. He enjoyed woodworking and donated several dollhouses to the Waynesboro Gala Auction benefiting the Franklin County unit of the American Cancer Society. His scale models of the Fahnestock House, Toll Gate House, Royer Farmstead and Oller House were displayed for many years at the Waynesboro Historical Society. He is survived by five sons, J. Edward Beck Jr., Stephen E. Beck, Thomas E. Beck, John W. Beck and Michael D. Beck, all of Waynesboro; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and Ginny (Wolf) Hollinger of Chambersburg, daughter of Virginia "Ginny" Wolf, to whom Beck was engaged prior to her death in 2001. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Christ United Methodist Church, 100 S. Church St., Waynesboro, with the Rev. Dr. A. Robert Cook officiating. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro. Memorial contributions may be made to the Waynesboro Area YMCA, 810 E. Main St., or The Lunch Place, in care of Christ United Methodist Church, 6 W. Second St., both of Waynesboro, Pa. 17268.