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Theodore Melvin Beckler |
1929 - 1958 |
Ted, as know by his brothers and sisters, was born in 1929. While he served as Principal of a Lutheran School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was called home to be with his Savior. On May 16, 1958, Ted left behind a wife, Marilyn and three children, Mike, Susan Webb, and Marty. Mike was five at the time. Marty was just born and had just come home from the hospital where he was delivered. Ted is remembered for his musical talent, his great sense of humor, (he always made people laugh with his mischief) his administrative skills and his love for his Lord. Read son Mike's message (go to the message board and type your response) and share one of your 'Ted' stories for him. | |
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Marilyn Pulford |
It has pleased Almighty God to take unto Himself the soul of Marilyn Pulford, to join all the saints who have proceeded her in death, and to wait for all of us to join her in that glorious reunion in eternity. Marilyn was in the hospital dealing with fluid in her lungs when a stroke at the base of the brain took her life. At her side was Susan Webb, her daughter. Marilyn suffered a great deal in this life and under treatment for constant pain. Her struggle in this life is over, her pain is gone. Blessed are they who die in the Lord.Pictures of Marilyn's family were taken after her Memorial Service. They have been included below and interwoven into the old stories and pictures of Ted's family. |
Marilyn Pulford | |
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Obituary |
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MARILYN A. PULFORD, 74, of Memphis, homemaker and former teacher for Peace Lutheran in Fort Wayne, Ind., and former employee of Hartford Insurance Co., died Tuesday (February 24th)at Saint Francis Hospital. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she was a member, with burial in Memphis Memory Gardens. Memphis Funeral Home Germantown Parkway Chapel has charge. Mrs. Pulford, the wife of John B Pulford, also leaves a daughter, Susan Webb of Memphis; a son, Michael Beckler of Cloudcroft, N.M.; a sister, Barbara Friedrich of Fort Wayne, and five grandchildren. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Commercial Appeal Newspaper, Memphis, TN.
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The family of Theodore (Ted) Beckler, Marilyn (Beckler) Pulford and Jack Pulford |
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There is no Content Feed currently selected for display. | | Mike and Susan moved Jack into a senior independent living community this week. He has a really nice apartment with lots of room and a scooter to help him get around. He is provided with 3 delicious meals per day, weekly laundry and housekeeping services, transportation, daily activities, people to socialize with, etc. etc. He seems to be quite happy there.His address is: Jack Pulford
6539 Knight Arnold Rd. Apt. 142
Memphis, TN 38115 Phone: 901-797-9904 |
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The Butterfly |
Marilyn and Jack joined a group organized to help individuals adjust to the loss of a child. Marilyn not only lost her husband at a young age, but she also lost her son Marty. A tribute to Marty is found below. On a yearly basis, the individual members were given a cocoon, which over time became the butterfly. As a group they released these butterflies symbolizing the transformation that occurred in their death to something new, namely, eternal life in the form of a beautiful butterfly. God has set us free from the bondage of sin.Marilyn purchased every butterfly she could find and it became a symbol for her recovery. In honor of Marilyn, all of the family wore a butterfly on their clothing. You might want to check the pictures and find them. |
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After Marilyn's Memorial Service, the buriel and lunch, served by the congregation, we took pictures. Jack has daughter Susan and her family on his right. On his left, son Mike's family.From the left....Wayne and Susan Webb, son Chris and daughter Michelle. Jack Pulford, Tonia and Mike Beckler, daughter Ellie and son, Wes. Missing from this picture is Hannah, who couldn't attend. |
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Marilyn's sister, Barbara Friedrich, from Ft. Wayne and her husband Harold Friedrich are found on the left side of Jack. On Jack's right, Rick Tatman and Cindy Breitinger, Barbara's children. Sitting close to Jack, is Rick's daughter, Paige. | |
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Marilyn and children at Tobias Family Reunion |
Shortly after Ted's death, Marilyn drove her three children to the reunion in Tobias Nebraska. Susan stood between Grandpa and Grandma, while Mike took advantage of Grandma's shoulder. Marilyn was holding Marty.As you can tell from the picture, Susan (Webb) is the oldest of the three. (Sorry Susan, but had to correct a previous error.) |
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Jack and Marilyn Pulford |
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Marilyn writes, "I had been a widow for over 5 years when Jack bravely took on "that widow with the 3 little kids" as his friends referred to me. (And they said it wouldn't last!) We met at TNT, a church group for singles in their "twenties'n thirties". And after a lot of grilling meals in my backyard (with me furnishing the food) and Sundays spent with me and the kids in his boat at the lake (and of course I always furnished the picnic lunch) he decided to give up his carefree bachelor life. It was all those free meals that did it; they say the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach and "widows with 3 little kids" have to have something going for them!"Jack and Marilyn were married on August 30, 1963 and enjoy retirement in Memphis, Tennessee. | | Mike e-mailed me this picture recently. It was taken on their vacation last October while in British Collumbia. That's Mt. Robson (highest peak in the Canadian Rockies) in the background. |
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| Jack Pulford |
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A Tribute To Her Uncle Marty. |
An Essay by Michelle (High School sophomore, niece of Marty Beckler)There was no warning: no time for my family to prepare for the heart-wrenching loss we were about to experience. One moment my uncle was with us, an important part of our daily life, and the next he was gone, leaving a void, which will never be filled. It was not until after he died, that I realized what an important role he had played in my life. |
Marty enjoying one of his favorite pasttimes | |
My uncle lived on a little, secluded, private drive in Mississippi. He had many acres of land. Every Mother's Day, my whole family and my grandparents would go over to his house.
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Marty and Gayle Beckler |
Each time we went, I was so excited to get there that the forty-five minute drive seemed like three hours. Once we finally arrived, I could not wait to eat. My uncle made the best ribs; the smell alone could lure anyone from a mile away. Then came my favorite part of the day. After everyone ate, I got to ride the tractor! For many years, I wasn't brave enough or old enough to drive it myself, so my uncle would ride along with me. The day always ended too soon and I would leave eagerly awaiting the next Mother's Day. Each summer I would go to my aunt and uncle's cabin by the lake. I really liked riding in his | | boat and even driving it sometimes. He was there when I first tried to water ski. It was not a pretty sight. I flew face first into the water! Those trips to the lake were always fun. Each time I went I felt as if my uncle was sharing something with me that he truly loved and enjoyed - the great outdoors. Birthdays and Christmases were also special times with my uncle. He came to almost everyone of my birthday parties. Each Christmas Eve he would he would come to our house bringing his delicious cheese dip. One year he unintentionally made it so hot that none of us could eat it without our eyes watering! I always wanted to ride with my uncle to the Christmas church service and sit by him. Just being around him was so great that it did not matter what we were doing. |
| In November 1997, life as I knew it changed. My uncle went into the hospital to have a supposedly low risk surgery. I still worried about him all day at school. I prayed for him many times, not once thinking that something bad could actually happen. Later that day, my mom called and told me that he was doing well. I was so relieved. that night I made a banner for him, which read: Get well soon and I love you. I intended to give it to him at the hospital the next day. Unfortunately, I never got the chance. I was at school when I got the phone call telling me my uncle would not wake up. Hearing that made me feel like my heart had just been ripped out! My godmother came and took me to the hospital, where I probably spent the worst hours of my life. Just sitting there waiting to find out if I would ever see my uncle again was so hard. Finally, the doctor told us that my uncle had suffered severe brain damage and it was only a life support machine keeping him alive. At that very moment, I got a lump in my throat and all I could do was cry.Having my uncle die was definitely the hardest thing I have had to go through. I was scared because no one that close to me had ever died before. I always assumed my uncle would be a part of my life, that he would someday be at my graduation and my wedding. Now he could not, and I felt cheated somehow. Then I remembered I would one day see my uncle again in heaven. My faith enabled me to accept what had happened. I will always miss my uncle, but he lives on in my memories,- and those I can keep forever! Thank you Michelle for your courage and for helping us appreciate Marty's life... Gordon |
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Gayle, Marty's wife on the left with her sister (Mitzie Wright), very much an important part of the family in Memphis. February, 2004 | |
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Mike Beckler Sends Picture of His Family |
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Mike Beckler writes, "The picture of my family is a little dated, being taken the summer of '99'. Lately it seems rare for the five of us to be together under one roof and even rarer to get us to stand for a photo. From left to right is Elise, Mike, Tonia, Wes and Hannah." |
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Wes, Ellie, Tonia and Mike Beckler, Feb 2004 |
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Wes Beckler, February 2004 |
Ellie Beckler, February 2004 |
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| Mike, who has his own Beckler Construction Co., also sub-contracts and supervises retail remodel jobs all over the country for a General Contractor based in Dallas. They have 13 1/2 acres just outside of Cloudcroft,NM where they have three horses that they ride and take on pack trips and camping in various National Forests.Wife tonia teaches Special Education in the Cloudcroft Elementary and Middle School. Elise "Ellie", 21, is a junior at Texas Tech in Lubbock. She plans to be a pharmacist and has applied to their School of Pharmacy for next fall. (Editorial note: I almost went to the Nebraska Texas Tech football game, but didn't. If I would have know that she was there, I would have taken her to dinner and given her $100 for college expenses. Bummer!) John Weston "Wes", 19, is a freshman at New Mexico State in Las Cruces and working toward a degree in engineering. Hannah, 16, is a sophomore at Portales High School. Thanks Mike for sending the pictures. Makes us all feel like we know you and your family a bit better. And, by the way, that's the way we want it to be.... Share more, we all seriously want to get to know you and your family much better. |
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Latest 2003 photo's of Mike Beckler Family |
Mike Beckler |
Tonia |
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In Cloudcroft at Christmas time they had about 16 inches of snow!. Wish I had been there for the holiday. You can see how it looked there in the 2 snow pictures. The picture of Mike and Tonia (below), which I think is SO good, was taken on Thanksgiving and I'm sending it for you to see since you haven't seen Mike for years, and Tonia, ever. Marilyn |
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Mike and Tonia Beckler... Thanksgiving 2003 | | | Go To Page: 1 [2] |
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