Richard McBeth

Richard McBeth, 84, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Henry County Health Center. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 28th at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday at the Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Doug Darnold officiating. Interment will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the First Presbyterian Church Sunday School Department and the Henry County Health Center EMS (Emergency Medical Services). Richard Edward McBeth was born August 26, 1928 in Trenton, Iowa, to Stanley McBeth and Helen Roth McBeth. Richard attended Mt. Pleasant schools, graduating from high school in 1946. He then enrolled at Iowa Wesleyan College, graduating in 1949 with a B.A. degree in education. August 16, 1949, Richard married Helen Burns, and for the next two years taught junior high English and coached high school girls' basketball in the Osceola Schools. Richard then accepted a position as elementary school principal in the Wapello School District, where he also coached high school girls' basketball. In September of 1952, Richard was called to military service, serving in the United States Army. Son, Andrew, was born in 1953, and Richard was released from military service following the death of his wife Helen Burns McBeth in 1954. Richard then resumed his teaching career and accepted a position as an elementary school teacher in the Fairfield School District, where he also worked as a coach. On May 28, 1955, Richard married Eileen Schuelka in Davenport, Iowa, and a year later, 1956, he became the principal of the Mt. Pleasant Junior High, also teaching geography and arithmetic. During this time, Richard worked toward earning his Master's Degree in education from Drake University, completing it in 1957. After seventeen years as principal of Mt. Pleasant Junior High, Richard served as principal at various elementary schools in the Mt. Pleasant district, including Harlan, Lincoln, Salem, and Saunders Schools. Richard McBeth retired from the education field in 1989. In addition to his career in education, Richard was a partner and broker with Keefe-McBeth Real Estate, which later became McBeth Real Estate Auctioneering. Richard was an auctioneer for almost forty years. Richard was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha during his years at Iowa Wesleyan; he was also a long-time member and former elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant; Richard served on the Planning and Zoning Committee for the City of Mt. Pleasant, held a term as a city councilman, and also served on the board of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District. His educational affiliations include a lifetime membership in the National Education Association and the State College Education Association of Iowa. Richard was a founder and charter member of the McGwider Group, which sponsors the Building and Trades Class at the Mt. Pleasant High School. Richard is survived by his wife Eileen, of Mt. Pleasant; son Andrew McBeth of Windsor Heights, Iowa; daughter Marcy Russell (and Robert Russell) of Marion, Iowa; son Michael McBeth (and Laurie McBeth) of New London, Iowa; and daughter Amy McBeth (and Brian Barkley) of North Liberty, Iowa. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carmalee McBeth of Burlington, Iowa, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews. Richard was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen, his parents, his sister Joan Twyman, his brother Larry McBeth, and his brother-in-law, Mel Twyman.