Alvin Gray "Grady" Beeker

Brief Life History of Alvin Gray "Grady"

Sgt. Grady Beeker, Formerly Here, Missing in Action Staff Sgt. Grady Beeker, 33, who was manager of the Carolina theater here several years ago and also a member of the Columbia Lion's club, has been missing in action over France since August 10, his mother, Mrs. C. T. Beeker of Mill Bridge, N.C. has been informed. He was lost on his 60th mission as a top turret gunner of a B-26. Sergeant Beeker has been awarded the seven oak leaf clusters. He enlisted in the army air corps August 26, 1942, and was transferred overseas Junary 24, 1944. After working here as Carolina theater manager, Sergeant Beeker was connected with theaters in Greenwood. He was a manager of the Carolina theater at Greensboro, N. C. when he entered the army. ==Above from: The State, Columbia, SC, 31 Aug 1944== ==Below from Gastonia Gazette on 22 Feb 1950== Gastonian's Brother, Killed In 1944, Sent To U. S. For Services -- The body of a U. S. airman, a brother of E. G. Beeker of Gastonia, has been recovered from a watery grave almost six years after his plane was shot down over the English Channel. The War Department has notified Mr. Beeker that the B-26 of which S/Sgt. Alvin Gray Beeker of Salisbury was a top turret gunner has been fished from the channel. The plane went down August 9, 1944, following a raid on the continent. Bodies of all six of the crew were recovered, the War Department said. But no positive identification of individual members could be made. For that reason, it added, the entire crew will be buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Ky., which is a common center for all next of kin. A shrine to the crew will be erected in the cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Beeker left Gastonia this morning to attend the military funeral scheduled Thursday morning at 11 o'clock. S/Sgt. Beeker is also survived by his mother, Mrs. C. T. Beeker, Salisbury, R-2; a brother, H. T. Beeker of Baton Rouge, La.; and three sisters, Mrs. P. L. Choate, Sparta, Mrs. Clyde Gillespie, Salisbury, and Mrs. P. L. Choate, Chester, Pa. ==Below from Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, 23 Feb 1950== Military funerals for 13 servicemen who died overseas during World War II will be held today at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. Services today will be at 11 a.m. for Sgt. Alvin G. Beeker, Salisbury, N.C.; Lt. James R. Elliott, Crittenden, Ky.; Sgt. William C. Lastinger, Lancaster, Penn.; Sgt. James J. Moulder, River Grove, Ill; Lts. Raymond H. Phillips, Columbus, Ga., and Sgt. Harold J. Whisenant, Oceana, W. Va.

Photos and Memories (1)

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Family Time Line

Charles Turner Beeker
1870–1941
Lula Etta Miller
1872–1952
Daisy Lee Beeker
1895–1962
Myrtle Miller Beeker
1897–1985
Mary Edna Beeker
1900–1985
Willie Mitchell Beeker
1902–1903
Erold Grier Beeker
1905–2003
Harrell Turner Beeker
1907–1971
Alvin Gray "Grady" Beeker
1911–1944

Sources (7)

  • A Gray Becker in household of Charley Becker, "United States Census, 1930"
  • Alvin Gray Beeker, "North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000"
  • Alvin G Beeker, "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"

World Events (8)

1912 · The Girl Scouts

Like the Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts is a youth organization for girls in the United States. Its purpose is to prepare girls to empower themselves and by acquiring practical skills.

1912 · McCreary County Created

Named after James B. McCreary a Confederate war hero and two time Governor of Kentucky McCreary County was created in 1912.

1923 · The President Dies of a Heart Attack

Warrant G. Harding died of a heart attack in the Palace hotel in San Francisco.

Name Meaning

North German and Dutch: habitational name for someone who lived by a stream, from Middle Low German beke ‘stream, brook’ + the suffix -er, denoting an inhabitant.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Story Highlight

obit of Alvin Beeker

His rank was Staff Sergeant. Passed in Brest France. He also has a marker in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, KY. He and the rest of his air crew are listed on the same marker. Go …

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