BEAL, JR., Richard Sidney

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, February 04, 2015 Richard Sidney Beal Jr., a sinner saved by grace, entered into the presence of his Savior Jesus Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, in Wenatchee, Washington. Dick was born in Victor, Colorado, to Richard Sr. and Mona Lelia (Ballfinch) Beal on May 7, 1916. Before his second birthday, his parents moved to Tucson, Arizona, where his father had been called to pastor the First Baptist Church. In 1941, he married Wilma Juhree (Billie) Gibbons of Tucson, Arizona. Richard entered the ministry in 1941, first becoming pastor of the Grace Baptist Church of Phoenix, then of the First Baptist Church of Flagstaff, Arizona. In 1947, convinced God had given him gifts for teaching rather than the pastorate, he began a teaching career at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. While there, his first son, Richard III, was born. In 1948, he took a teaching position at the San Francisco Baptist College, and began work on a Ph.D. degree at the University of California in entomology. On completing his doctorate, he became a professor of systematic theology at Denver Seminary. In 1953, while he was on summer vacation in Tucson, his son Andrew Allen Beal was born. In 1956, he was invited to work as a research entomologist for the Department of Agriculture with assignment to the Smithsonian Institution, where he worked until 1958, when he became a professor of zoology at Arizona State University. In 1962, he was transferred to Northern Arizona University. In 1965, he became Dean of the Graduate College and Research, a position he held until his retirement at NAU in 1983. His wife, Billie, passed away in 1986 after a lengthy illness. That year he became an interim pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Cornona, California. In 1987, he married his longtime friend Evorine Brewer. They moved to Lakewood, Colorado, where both were on the faculty of Colorado Christian University until their retirements in 1994. That fall they moved to Prescott, Arizona. Dick and Evorine moved to East Wenatchee, Washington, to be close to family in 2011. In his retirement, he enjoyed studying beetles, including publishing several articles in scientific journals. He also authored four books. His greatest delight came from teaching the Bible. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his son Richard III, his brothers Charles and David, and his sister Betty Thieme. He leaves his sister Margaret Ryan of Riverside, California; his son Andrew (Nancy) Beal of Denver, Colorado; and his beloved wife Evorine of East Wenatchee. He also leaves three stepchildren; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. March 21, 2015, at Eastmont Baptist Church in East Wenatchee. Pastor Steve Brewer will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dick's memory to the Eastmont Baptist Church's Hispanic ministry, 400 S. Kentucky Ave., East Wenatchee, WA 98802. Telford's Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee, Washington is responsible for arrangements. Information provided by survivors.