James Beck

James Warren "Jim" Beck, 82, of Gastonia, passed away on October 29, 2016, at Caromont Regional Medical Center, Gastonia. He was born on September 4, 1934, in Davidson County, NC, to the late James Alexander and Terese Pugh Leonard Beck.
In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his brothers, Bobby Beck and Ted Beck.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 31 years, Ilean Milstead Beck; children, Dee Beck of Myrtle Beach, SC, Alan W. Beck of Thomasville and Kris K. Brown and husband Bobby of Clover, SC; grandchildren, Josh Beck and wife Ashton, Mandi Beck, Austin Beck, Stacie Brown, Timothy Brown, Mikaela Brown; great-grandchildren, Hunter Brown, Braxton Beck and Haleigh Pruitt; brother, David Beck and wife Sherry of Lexington; sisters, Jackie Parish of Thomasville, Fran Vick and husband Carroll of Ararat, VA, Judi Bullabaugh of Mocksville, NC.

Jim was a 1952 graduate of Thomasville High School. He was the Yo-Yo champ for the city of Thomasville in 1952. He retired from the US Navy after 20 years of service from the USS Forrestal where he was a plank owner. Jim served on ship during Korea, Viet Nam and the Cold War. He received 5 good conduct medals, 2 National Defense medals, and a Naval Occupational medal. He served in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets on 8 ships from minesweepers to aircraft carriers. Jim was a US Navy recruiter and was the first zone supervisor for Western North Carolina. He graduated from Gaston College with an associate degree in business. He was retired from Western Auto Supply after 25 years of service. Jim was a longtime member of Firestone Wesleyan Church in Gastonia where he served as Trustee, LBA member, choir member, and was a member of Wesleyan Men and the softball team. Jim loved family camping, Boy Scouts, golf, travelling (visited all 50 states with Ilean) and cooking. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle. Jim was a friend to all and he will be greatly missed.

His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, at Firestone Wesleyan Church with Rev. Don Avore and Rev. Don Milstead officiating.

Interment will follow at Gaston Memorial Park with military rites by the US Navy Honor Guard..

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm Monday at Sisk-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services in Bessemer City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Firestone Wesleyan Church Building Fund, 1700 Union Road, Gastonia, NC 28054.