Ira M Beach

Ira M. Beach, 92, of Bonneau, husband of Barbara Guerry Smith Beach, went to be with His Lord, Tuesday evening, July 12, 2011, at his home.

Mr. Beach was born in Mt. Pleasant on July 21, 1918, the son of Ira G. Beach and Carrie Pooser Beach.

He served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in Patton’s 3rd Army, and founded Beach and Beach Real Estate and Insurance in 1949. He was an active member of the Lions Club for many years; a member of the American Legion; Bonneau Beach Civic Club; and taught Sunday school for many years. He enjoyed reading, hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, and many other pursuits, but his great love was for the pastors and churches in which he held membership since he surrendered his life to Christ in the Army on October 8, 1946. His greatest joy was bringing people to Jesus.

He had a special love for little children and for people whom others often overlooked, and he had an intense commitment to home and foreign missionary endeavors. Mr. Beach was an exemplary Christian, a member of First Baptist Church of Bonneau.

Mr. Beach was formerly married to the late Carolyn Annie Cecil Beach, and his survived by his wife of 24 years, Barbara Guerry Smith Beach; other survivors include 3 sons – Cecil Beach of Charleston; Bruce Beach of Charleston; and Duane Beach of California; a sister - Edna Beach Orvin; 7 grandchildren, and fourteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother - LaPrince Beach and a sister – Florence Beach.

His funeral service will be held in First Baptist Church of Bonneau Friday morning, July 15, 2011, at 11 o’clock. Interment will follow in Carolina Memorial Park in Charleston, directed by RUSSELL FUNERAL CHAPEL of Moncks Corner. The family will receive friends at Russell Funeral Chapel, between 6 and 8 o’clock Thursday evening.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Bonneau Building Fund, P. O. Box 130, Bonneau, S. C. 29431.