Richard Beal

Richard S. Beal Obituary Richard Sidney Beal, Jr., a sinner saved by grace, entered into the presence of his Savior Jesus Thursday January 29, 2015 in Wenatchee, WA. Dick was born in Victor, Colorado, to Richard, Sr. and Mona Lelia (Ballfinch) Beal on May 7, 1916. Before his second birthday his parents moved to Tucson, Arizona, where his father had been called to pastor the First Baptist Church. In 1941 he married Wilma Juhree (Billie) Gibbons of Tucson, AZ. Richard entered the ministry in 1941, first becoming pastor of the Grace Baptist Church of Phoenix, then of the First Baptist Church of Flagstaff, AZ. In 1947, convinced God had given him gifts for teaching rather than the pastorate, he began a teaching career at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. While there, his first son, Richard III, was born. In 1948 he took a teaching position at the San Francisco Baptist College, and began work on a PH.D. degree at the University of California in Entomology. On completing his doctorate, he became a professor of systematic theology at Denver Seminary. In 1953, while he was on summer vacation in Tucson, his son Andrew Allen Beal was born. In 1956, he was invited to work as a research entomologist for the Department of Agriculture with assignment to the Smithsonian Institution, where he worked until 1958, when he became a professor of zoology at Arizona State University. In 1962 he was transferred to Northern Arizona University. In 1965, he became Dean of the Graduate College and Research, a position he held until his retirement at NAU in 1983. His wife, Billie passed away in 1986 after a lengthy illness. That year he became an interim pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Cornona, California. In 1987 he married his long-time friend, Evorine Brewer. They moved to Lakewood, Colorado, where both were on the faculty of Colorado Christian University until their retirements in 1994. That fall they moved to Prescott, AZ. Dick and his wife Evorine moved to East Wenatchee, WA to be close to family in 2011. In his retirement, he enjoyed studying beetles, including publishing several articles in scientific journals. He also authored four books. His greatest delight came from teaching the Bible. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his son Richard, III, his brothers Charles and David, and his sister, Betty Thieme. He leaves his sister Margaret Ryan of Riverside, California, his son Andrew (Nancy) Beal of Denver, Colorado, and his beloved wife Evorine of East Wenatchee. He also leaves 3 stepchildren and a total of 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren! Memorial services will be held at Eastmont Baptist Church in East Wenatchee on March 21, 2015 at 11:00am. Pastor Steve Brewer will be officiating. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Dick's memory to the Eastmont Baptist Church's Hispanic ministry, 400 S. Kentucky Ave., East Wenatchee, WA 98802. Telford's Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee, WA is responsible for arrangements.

Richard Beal

May 7, 1916 - January 29, 2015