Dr. Charles Henry Beckmann

Dr. Charles H. Beckmann returned to the hands of the Lord on Thursday, February 15, 2024. He passed away as he always said he wanted to do…in his sleep, in his own bed, in the house he built with his wife in children. He was 93 years old.

Charles was born in New York, New York on July 18, 1930 to Wilhelm and Margaret (Wellershaus) Beckmann. He grew up in the borough of Queens, in New York City, and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Cambridge, MA and his medical degree at Cornell University Medical School in Ithaca, NY. During his career, he was inducted as a diplomate into the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Cardiology.

After graduating medical school, Charles married Ardith Kuehm on June 9, 1956. Ardith was a registered nurse working in the pediatrics ward that Charles met while doing his clinical rotations. They were married for 61 years and had three loving children and two granddaughters who they loved immensely.

Wanting to serve his country, Charles joined the United States Air Force in 1956. Trained as a cardiologist, he was lucky enough to spend the majority of his career working at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Having served in the Vietnam Conflict, he was stationed at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines during which time he traveled extensively. In August 1983, after 26 years of meritorious service and at the rank of colonel, he begrudgingly retired. Charles loved the Air Force with all of his heart having earned multiple commendation medals, awards, and distinguished honors while in the service of our country.

In 1984, Charles joined the Skinner Clinic in San Antonio, Texas where he worked as a cardiologist until he finally retired at the age of 82 years old in 2012. He was beloved by his patients, colleagues, and friends being famous for his bawdy jokes and boisterous laugh.

Charles enjoyed numerous outdoor hobbies including hunting, fishing, and trap/skeet shooting. As a teenager he earned his Eagle Scout and as an adult was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America holding a variety of positions within the organization ranging from troop scoutmaster to Council Commissioner of the Alamo Area Council. Additionally, he was a longstanding and dedicated member of the Alzafar Shrine where he was a member of the Provost Guard pistol shooting team and the Oriental Band.

Charles was preceded in death by his father, mother, and wife Ardith K. Beckmann. He is survived by his son, David and daughter-in-law Stacy, his son Eric, his daughter Diana and son-in-law Alexander, and his two beloved granddaughters, Skylar and Riley.

A visitation for Charles will be held Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78238. A funeral service will occur Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 9944 Leslie Road, San Antonio, TX 78254. A committal service will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, 9944 Leslie Road, San Antonio, TX 78254.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectively requests that donations be made to the Alzafar Shrine, American Heart Association, or Boy Scouts of America.