Kenneth Beckstead

Kenneth Mervyn Beckstead, a lifetime resident of the area, passed away suddenly at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Sat., May 10, 2008, 17 days prior to his 84th birthday.
He was born in Chesterville on May 27, 1924 to Earl and Edna (Kellett) Beckstead and was raised on the family farm along with his brother, Freeman.
He married Betty Shaver on Nov. 6, 1954 and together they raised two children, Charlene and Larry. Throughout his life Ken worked at various jobs, retiring after having worked 16 years at Nestlé.
Following his retirement, Betty and Ken moved to the Park Drive Villa in Williamsburg where Ken was asked to be the building superintendent. He did that job for seven years and was good at it, making sure that if something needed to be repaired it was done immediately, and if there was a stranger in the building he made it his business to find out why they were there.
Ken enjoyed fixing up old discarded items and making them into treasures. He was ahead of his time in reducing, reusing, and recycling. He was a planner and was very meticulous in the way he did things.
After he retired from his job as building superintendent, he realized his hidden talent - poetry. He has composed over 500 pieces of poetry since 2004, about people, places, special occasions, and events that meant so much to him. He touched many people through his poetry and he enjoyed the reactions he received from people when his poetry was read.
Ken was a member of the United Church of Canada.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend and he enjoyed family gatherings where he could keep up-to-date on what was happening in the lives of his family members.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Betty, his children Charlene (Jack) Berends of Osgoode and Larry (Jennifer) of Abbotsford, B.C., and his grandchildren Teresa (Jim) Shute, Jason (Robin) Berends, and Riley and Victoria Beckstead. He was a dear brother-in-law of Phyllis Reilly of Williamsburg, Keith (Marg) Shaver of Williamsburg, Stanley (Pam) Shaver of Athens, and Ruby (Jack) Fraser of Johnstown. He was predeceased by a brother, Freeman Beckstead. He is also survived by nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Williamsburg, on Mon., May 12 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. The funeral service was held at Williamsburg United Church on Tues., May 13 at 11 am, with Rev. Elaine Beattie officiating. Interment followed at New Union Cemetery in Williamsburg.
Pallbearers were Bill Smith, Neil Beckstead, Joe Morris, Dale Beckstead, Lorne Beckstead, and David Carkner.
Donations to Williamsburg United Church would be appreciated by the family.