John M. (Jack) Beckham

Of Laurel, MD died on Friday, March 18, 2016.  Born August 30, 1935 in Washington, D.C., he was a son of John S. and Shirley K. Beckham, both deceased.  He was also predeceased by brothers Robert H. and Kerry B. Beckham.

John grew up in the original Greenbelt, MD community and graduated from the University of Maryland class of 1958 with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering.  Upon graduation John took a job with Naval Ordnance Lab in White Oak, MD until 1965 when he took employment at NASA/Goddard assigned to the Delta rocket program in the area of guidance and control. He was awarded an exceptional Service Medal and rose to Deputy Program Manager. He retired  in 1993.  He then worked for Orbital Sciences Corp. in their Chandler, AZ facility, retiring fully in 1999 after 41 years in the aerospace industry.

John was the beloved husband of Betty M., his wife of 59 years.  Together they raised a family of 3 children, making their home in Laurel, MD since 1962.

He leaves behind his wife Betty, daughters Cheryl Kerr (Duncan) and Linda Holt (Mark), son Thomas Beckham (Anne Marie), and 7 grandchildren: Amy Clarke (Tommy), Christopher Holt, Kelly Holt, Elisabeth Kerr, Alex Kerr, Sadie Beckham and Benjamin Beckham.  Also surviving, is a brother, Steve Beckham (Diane) and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family enjoyed his sense of humor and words of wisdom.  He enjoyed Jazz and Blue Grass music, photography, gardening, hiking, riding ocean waves and traveling.  He volunteered as a tutor to high school students in the South Laurel tutoring program at Oakland Presbyterian Church, and in the AVID program at Meade Middle School.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601