Edwin D. Beach

Rev. Edwin D. Beach, 83, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday Feb. 18, 2015 at Riverside Village, Elkhart, Indiana. Ed was born March 4, 1931 in Cassopolis, MI to Samuel H. and Freda (Cloud) Beach. He married Betty R. Clark on June 20, 1953 in Elkhart. Betty preceded him in death on September 29, 2014. Surviving are a daughter Dala (Denny) Heeg of Elkhart, a son Rollie (Laurel) Beach of North Olmsted, Ohio, four grandchildren, a brother Alan (Rose) Beach of St. Joseph, MI and a sister Doris Beach of Richland, MI. A brother Roldo Beach preceded him in death.

After graduation from Bible College, Ed was ordained as a minister in 1955. He served as a EUB circuit preacher in Iowa for 5 years before moving to Ohio in 1960 to attend the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. He received his Masters of Divinity and served as a Methodist Minister in Northwest Ohio for 33 years. Ed delivered more than 2800 Sunday sermons, officiated hundreds of weddings, funerals and baptisms. Ed was also instrumental in helping two congregations construct new church buildings and re-construct and expand two others. Ed had many talents in addition to his work in the Methodist Church. Ed was a lap steel guitar player and an accomplished wood carver. He was a chalk artist and performed his “chalk talks” in schools, churches and auditoriums until his retirement in 1993. Ed loved to travel with his wife Betty. They fulfilled a life-long dream of visiting the Holy Lands and camped and motor-homed in all 50 states.

Visitation begins at noon followed by a 1pm Memorial Service on Saturday March 7, 2015 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home in Elkhart with Pastor Karen Bray officiating.

Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Elkhart for their adult day care program. Online condolences may be made at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com