Donald Gary Beech

Donald Gary Beech, 80, Mexico, passed away at 5:25 a.m. on Friday, January 15, 2021, at IU Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Born October 24, 1940, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, he was the son of John Wilson Beech and Mary Francis (Wells) Beech.  On April 15, 1961, in Elkton, Maryland, he was married to Patricia J. Belcher, of Philadelphia, PA, and she survives.  

Don was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Peru, Indiana, and had attended St. Ann’s in Kewanna for several years.  He graduated from Western High School, Howard County, in 1959, and was a United States Navy Veteran, serving aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal.  He retired in 1993 from Chrysler Corporation in Kokomo, where he had worked for over thirty years and was a member of UAW 685.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Beech, Mexico; one son, Donald G. (Lynn) Beech, Jr., Peru; two daughters, Cynthia (Ron) Gibson, Indianapolis; and Jacqueline M. (William) Shaw, Kokomo; eight grandchildren, Alex Beech, Indianapolis; Anastasia Greenburg, Avon; Elisha Marie Petty; Brandi Mendoza, William Steele, and Willie Shaw, all of Kokomo; Ethan Beech, Noblesville; and Evan Beech, Peru; and one brother, Ward D. (Lois) Bowlby, Russiaville.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wilson Beech; mother and step-father, Mary Francis and Kermit L. Bowlby; and one sister, Ninta Gordon. 

Due to COVID concerns, the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated privately at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Peru. Burial will be in St. Charles Catholic Cemetery, Peru.  

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Miami County Helping Hands or Macy Food Pantry, and sent to McClain Funeral Home, PO Box 248, Denver, IN 46926.

McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.mcclainfh.com. 

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