E.C. "Buck" Beaver

ELMER C. “BUCK” BEAVER

Born in Philadelphia, PA on January 24, 1924 to the late Charles Beaver and Lillian Lee, Elmer C. “Buck” Beaver passed peacefully on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 at the age of 93.

After high school, Buck enjoyed playing baseball in the minor league before ultimately deciding to pursue a career with IBM in May 1942. He began as a Field Technician and shortly afterward in March 1943 was drafted into WWII with the 26th Machine Records Unit (MRU) & Infantry. He advanced to the level of 4th Sergeant, or Buck Sergeant, and ultimately earned the nickname “Buck” which would remain for the rest of his life.  Buck was later assigned to the 101st Airborne and participated in the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944.  During his service in WWII, Buck participated in 5 combat campaigns and was decorated with as many medals, including the EMEA Theater Service Medal with 5 Bronze stars, and returned to the USA on December 11, 1945.

Upon returning home he resumed his employment with IBM where he would remain for the next 42 years, during which time he would advance through the management chain overseeing the Field Engineering Division and the establishment of offices in Charlotte, VA, Towson, MD, White Plains, NY, and Baltimore, MD. Buck retired from IBM in January 1984.

After retirement, Buck fully pursued his longtime hobby of repairing small engines by opening and operating Buck’s Repair Shop. He later returned to the workforce as Building Maintenance Engineer at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland until leaving in 2002.  For many years, he could be found on most Saturdays with his close and longtime friend John Glennon enjoying breakfast at the Tastee Diner and playing golf until Alzheimer’s made it impossible to continue. Buck enjoyed spending time with his family, playing the accordion and piano, and a traditional daily happy hour with his wife where they would recap their day.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Richard E. Beaver, of Philadelphia, PA. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathleen, son Rick and wife Janet of Colorado, daughter Barbara of Virginia, son Michael and wife Melissa, sons Stephen and Sean, and daughter Mary, all of Maryland, as well as grandchildren Rick, Cheri, Janelle, Alexis, Cambria, Courtney, Victor and Austin and 4 great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 20th from Noon – 1:00 at Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Avenue, in Laurel, Maryland.

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