Joe Franklin Beckett

Joe Franklin Beckett, 88, passed away Friday, June 17, at the Halcyon House Hospice. He was born to L. Everett and Roma Helen Gerlach Beckett on March 1, 1928, in Orlando, Florida. He grew up in Huntington, WV., where he graduated from Huntington High School in June of 1947. In his freshman year of college, he attended Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The following year, he transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI).

Joe grew up across the street from his best friend and future wife, Edith Runyan. They were married on April 15, 1949. Using skills he learned from his father, Joe worked as a carpenter until joining the sales force of Master Builders, a division of Martin Marietta, in Charleston, West Virginia. When the state of West Virginia initiated their Certification for Concrete Technicians, he was awarded Certification #1.

In Charleston, he was a Deacon at Calvary Baptist Church. After a move to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he served as an Elder and a Trustee at Westmont Presbyterian Church. In 1984, the family moved to Marietta, Georgia, then relocated to Cumming and joined Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church. There he became a ROMEO, and was very fond of Bluegrass Music at McDonald's.

He is survived by his wife, Edith, his children Cinda of Cumming, GA, Kim (Lois) of Troutman, NC and David of Durham, NC. He is also survived by four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, L. Everett and Roma Beckett, and his brother Jack.

A memorial service will be held at Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2016. A reception will follow in the Kelso Room on the church property.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the church building fund at Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church, 7620 Lanier Dr., Cumming, GA 30041.

Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886-9899

Saturday, June 25, 2016
11:00 AM

Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church
7620 Lanier Drive
Cumming, Ga 30041