He was born March 19, 1946, in Portsmouth, Ohio, a son of the late Raymond and Ann Ehrlich Beckett. On Aug. 22, 1998, he was united in marriage to Marian Fischels Beckett who survives.
Also surviving are three children, Joseph Grant Beckett, Graceann Frances Beckett and Ethan Vincent Beckett, all at home; two brothers, Tony Beckett of Jermyn, Pa., and Rick Beckett of Portsmouth, Ohio; his former wife, Rebecca Folsom Parks; special friends, Rita Frye and Bruce Kelley; and special relatives, Greg Beckett and Phillip Ehrlich.
Gene graduated from high school in Wheatridge, Colo., received his BA and MA in English, and his Ph.D. in higher education. He was a former English and Spanish high school teacher, and was an administrator and associate professor of Developmental English at Shawnee State University. He was the former president of the Ohio Association for Developmen-tal Education (DADE), and the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE), a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the Portsmouth Sister City Committee. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Otway, Ohio, and was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam era.
A gathering of friends and family will be Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Hall, with Rosary and sharing at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Otway, with the Rev. David Young, celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery with military graveside services by American Legion Post 23 of Portsmouth.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Notre Dame Elementary School for Gene’s children's education.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Botkin Funeral Home in Otway.
Post a Comment
