Charles R. Beckley

Charles R. Beckley, 80 died on January 22, 2013 at The Washington Home & Community Hospices from cancer complications. A man of confidence and sure of his values, he connected with people from all walks of life. He placed a high value on civility and treated everyone with kindness and respect. He will be remembered for his cheerfulness and optimism, his sense of humor, and his refusal to take himself too seriously. He disliked pretense, was curious about everything, and firmly believed in having fun.

A native Washingtonian, Charles grew up in Le Droit Park. His father was a medical doctor and his mother taught English in the D.C. public schools. He graduated from the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, Ohio Wesleyan University, and the Georgetown School of Law. In addition to a twenty-five year career with the U.S. Department of Labor, Charles pursued an eclectic variety of other interests. He and a partner owned and operated the first halfway houses for alcoholics in the district. Holding several mechanical patents, he designed and manufactured knockdown furniture. He also worked on numerous projects related to alternative energy and fixed almost anything that broke himself. In addition, he managed family real estate and other investment interests.

Always a talented athlete, he excelled in every sport he undertook. A record-setting sprinter, he was a perennial winner of the quarter mile event and the winning anchor on the mile relay for almost every meet during his four year college career. He owned and raced sports cars in the 1960's. Starting at about age 50, he became an avid bicyclist. Until the last year of his life, he cycled 75 to 100 miles per week in the Washington area and on the Eastern Shore. True to his well-known frugality, he bought most of his bikes at thrift stores and restored them himself. For the last 17 years, Charles and his wife wintered in Florida, primarily for the biking weather. In addition, he always had a weekend getaway home on the water, first at Venice Beach near Annapolis, and for the last 30 years on Town Point, near Cambridge, Maryland. In the 1970's, he was the president of the civic association at Venice Beach.

Charles is survived by Nan, his wife of 42 years, his brother John (Cindy Calahan), his son Charles (Kay), two grandchildren and two great-grandsons, and a special cousin Douglas Speaks (Nielda). His eldest brother Edgar of Monterrey, Mexico is deceased.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6 at Old Trinity Church, 1716 Taylors Island Road (Route 16 South), Church Creek, MD. The family looks forward to seeing friends at lunch in the parish hall after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northfield Mount Hermon School, One Lamplighter Way, Mount Hermon, MA 01354. Thomas Funeral Home P.A. is handling the arrangements.