Roger E. Beach

Roger Beach, age 74 of Crawfordsville passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Ben Hur Home in Crawfordsville. Roger was born in Crawfordsville on July 13, 1943 to the late Morris & Doretha (Lowe) Beach. On January 30, 1966 he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy McCloud, who survives. He was in the last graduating class of Horace Mann School and attended Crawfordsville High School where his favorite class was Band under the direction of the legendary Vernon Spaulding. He played trumpet and won many Solo and Ensemble competitions. This love of music persisted throughout his life. He was a 50- year member of the Montgomery County Civic Band and was president of the Southmont Music Boosters from 1982- 1987 while his children were in the band.

During high school he held three jobs: shoe shine boy at the Bill Cummings Barber shop, delivery person for Flowers by Dale, and attendant at Ben Hur Drive-in. He was a graduate of Lain Technical Institute in Architectural Drafting. He worked several years for John Brown and Associates Church Building Consultants locally and later for 20 years at Walter Scholar and Associates Architects in Lafayette. In 1990 he started his own family business, Eagle Embroidery.

Roger was a member of First Christian Church where he attended from preschool on through his Boy Scout years. He then continued serving there in many capacities including deacon, elder, and property manager, table leader and cook for the Emmaus Walk. His desire was to be a servant of Christ in his home, church, community, and country. He lived this out by serving most of his adult life in the local American Red Cross in varying capacities from board member in the early years to Canoe and Kayah Water Safety Instructor and Instructor Trainer and Disaster Program Manager.

Any spare time would find him on Sugar Creek or other whitewater canoeing streams. He served as course judge for Kayak and Rowing pre-trials for several Olympics. He was a member of Friends of Sugar Creek from its inception and was active in gaining recognition and protection of Sugar Creek as an Indiana Natural Stream. For his years of community service, he was awarded The President’s Service Award in 2005.

Roger is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Beach of Crawfordsville; a daughter, Rachael (Mark) Coleman of Wingate; a son, Dennis (Melanie) Beach of Crawfordsville; a sister, Lorraine Moore of Greenfield; a brother-in-law, Dan Walden of Crawfordsville; and four grandchildren, Josie & Evan Beach and Ian & Justin Coleman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary Walden; and his sheep herding dogs, his border collie, Ben and Australian shepherd, Skylee.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at First Christian Church of Crawfordsville, 211 S Walnut Street, in Crawfordsville. A Homecoming Celebration will be held at the church at 11:00am on Thursday, May 17, 2018 with Rev. Darla Goodrich officiating. Memorial donations may be given to Friends of Sugar Creek, 1103 Darlington Ave, Crawfordsville, IN 47933 or Montgomery County Civic Band, PO Box 719, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Sanders Priebe Funeral Care entrusted with care. Share memories and condolences online at www.sandersfuneralcare.com