March 15, 1911 ~ Jan. 5, 2009
Les Beyea went quietly home to the Lord on the afternoon of January 5, 2009. He had a relatively brief battle with cancer and was blessed to pass away at home and in the loving care of his wife, Pennie.
Les was born nearly 98 years ago and raised in Burbank, California during the time when it was a cradle of American aviation. In his early days, he flew WWI era airplanes and loved aviation till his last days. He spent his vocational life in the Southern California Aerospace Industry and worked on such programs as the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules Transport, (the Spruce Goose, now located in McMinnville, Oregon) the early American ICBM rocket development programs and the Apollo Space Capsule re-entry systems.
In 1991 he followed his son and family to the Pacific Northwest where he became involved with new friends at Vancouver's First Church of God in Vancouver, Washington. At the tender young age of 82 he and a friend went to Hawaii to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity. He was loved by all because of his joyful spirit that endured even to his last hours.
Les is survived by his wife, Pennie Beyea; his son, John Beyea; his sister, Jeanette Barton; and his two grandchildren, Amy Beyea and Tommy Beyea who were fortunate to enjoy their grandfather into their adult years.
A memorial service was held at the First Church of God, Vancouver, Washington on Thursday, January 15, 2009.
Published in The Columbian, Vancouver, WA on January 11, 2009.
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