John Beckley

John William Beckley, 86, of Cadiz, Ohio died Thursday, November 30, 2006 at the Harrison County Home. John was the son of the late James F. and Frona Hackney Beckley. John was born September 5, 1920 at Amsterdam, Ohio. He was a 1938 graduate of Cadiz High School. John retired from Y&O Coal Company after forty-four years as a welder/mechanic. He was an active member of the United Mine Workers of America Local #283 and was a member of Scott United Methodist Church in Cadiz. John is survived by his wife of forty years Ann Wilson Beckley. Together they shared the love of three children: Carol Wilson Rhodes, Kathryn Wilson (George) Mizer all of Cadiz, Harry (Joan) Wilson of New Philadelphia; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a sister Helen Chesla of Cadiz; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend Jerry Dye of Marietta, Ohio. John was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Anna Jean Grimes Beckley; a brother Homer Beckley; a sister Vivian Kugler; and a son in law James L. Rhodes. John was drafted into the Civilian Army in October of 1942. He trained for ten months in Mississippi and Indiana. In September of 1943 he was sent to England then to Ireland. In the early morning of June 6, 1944, D-Day, John's plane was shot down over the Cherbourg Peninsula in France. He was captured by the German Army and was held captive as a POW at Gross-Tychow, Germany. On February 5, 1945, after ten months of deplorable conditions, John started on the four hundred plus miles of the Death March to Freedom. The march ended for John and twenty five hundred other POW'S of April 26, 1945. John received nineteen medals for serving his country in World War II, including a purple heart. He was a member of the following organizations: Yellow Creek Chapter of American POW; Life Member of Ex POW; American Ex Prisoners of War Stalag Luft IV; Life Member of Disabled American Veterans; Life Member of VFW #6815; Life Member of VFW #1154133. ''We exist to help those who cannot help themselves,'' is the EX-POW motto that John chose to honor his entire adult life. Calling hours are Friday, December 1, 4-7 at Clark-Kirkland Funeral Home, Cadiz, where a service will be held celebrating John's life Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Richard Hasley and Rev. Rick Brinsley will co- officiate. Burial and Military graveside will be conducted by the Freeport VFW at Holly Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Pleasant Grove, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas Co., 201 W. Third St., Dover, Ohio 44622 or Yellow Creek Chapter EX-POW, 107 McKinley Avenue, Weirton, W. Va. 26062. The memorial guestbook may be signed at www.clark-kirkland.com.

Service

Friday, December 1, 2006 4:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Clark-Kirkland-Barr Funeral Home, Inc.
172 South Main Street Cadiz 4390, United States