Tribune Review
Pittsburgh, PA
29 Mar 2010


John Clarke Beck, 56, died Friday, March 26, 2010, at his home in New
Alexandria, with his wife and son at his side.  He was born Dec. 6,
1953, in Mt. Pleasant, to the late John Miller Beck and Alda Edna
(Wetzel) Beck-Barr.

He graduated from Southmoreland High School in the class of 1971.
John was a former carpenter in the Clairton Steel Facility in Clairton,
and was educated in Pittsburgh at the Culinary Arts School as a chef.
He was employed by Health America Insurance where he worked as a sales
consultant for the Advantra division, from which he was honored with
the presidential award for 13 consecutive years.  He was a member of
the NRA and a great American.  He was also a member of Calvin United
Presbyterian Church of Scottdale.

He is survived by his partner for life, his wife of 19 years, Margaret
(Kennelty) Beck, formerly of Youngwood; his son (from a previous
marriage to Paula Sowinski, of Scottdale), Dr. Jonathan Raymond Beck,
of Greensburg; his mother, Alda Edna (Wetzel) Beck-Barr, of Scottdale;
stepsister, Donna Rae (Barr) Brown, of Mayville, N.C.; and sister,
Sherry LaRue (Barr) Fowler, of Scottdale. Along with the above, John is
survived by brothers-in-law, Charles Brown and Kevin Truman Fowler; niece,
Anna Marie Stanley and her husband, William, of Hubert, N.C.; and nephews,
Spc. Donald Scott Fowler, stationed in Iraq, and Brian Christopher Fowler,
of Scottdale.  He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents,
Raymond W. Beck and Leora Stoner Beck; his maternal grandparents, Edward
C. Wetzel and Edna M. (Jahnig) Wetzel, of Cabot; and his stepfather,
Donald R. Barr, of Scottdale.  He is also survived by many aunts, uncles
and cousins from the Butler, Oil City and Scottdale area.

To all of our family and friends, and Christopher Myers, who supported
us during John's journey back to his creator, we are eternally grateful.
Blessed are the givers and thankful are the receivers.  Family and friends
will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the KEPPLE-GRAFT
FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, with a funeral ceremony
following at 8 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to St. Francis University Relay for Life.  Donations may be sent
to St. Francis University Physical Therapy Department, P.O. Box 600,
Loretto, PA 15940 with Attn. Curt Kindel.  John will be sadly missed
by his wife, son, family and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
The music and way of life that he shared with his friends and family
will live on in all.  If it was said of John, he knew how to live.
Terence L. Graft, funeral director, entrusted with the arrangements.
For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.