Robert "Bob" Francis Beautz

He was born on July 19, 1931, in Browndale, Pennsylvania, the son of Frank and Josephine “Jo” (Devney) Beautz. Bob was one of three children growing up in a small coal mining town. After graduating from Forest City High School in 1949, he enlisted in the Air Force, became a Korean War veteran, completed a 30-year career in multiple operational/training/testing roles (including the cruise missile program in his later years, and achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

Early in his Air Force career, he met the love of his life, Theresa Helene Morosky, while attending a polish dance back in Forest City. Bob says he saw the most beautiful girl in a blue dress sitting on the side of the dance floor and he couldn’t resist asking her to dance. They began dating, which was complicated by the fact that Bob was in the Air Force. Bob traveled back on weekends to visit her whenever he could. Bob and Theresa got married on July 19, 1958 and soon afterwards he received orders for his new assignment in England. Unfortunately, Theresa couldn’t go so the newlyweds had to be apart a bit longer.

Upon his return in 1960, they loaded up their Renault Dauphine and headed to Wichita Falls, Texas for Bob’s next assignment at Sheppard AFB. From 1960 to 1970, Theresa and Bob lived on Sheppard AFB as the family grew with the births of their three sons. In 1970, they transferred again to Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois. During this next decade Theresa and the boys were able to travel throughout the continental U.S. with Bob, taking many vacations to visit different parts of the country. Also, during this time, Bob, being a pretty good athlete growing up (playing basketball and baseball in high school), involved the boys in numerous sports, including football, baseball, basketball, racquetball, golf, and swimming lessons. When Bob retired from the Air Force in 1979, the family made a final move to Rockville, Maryland, where he worked for a few more years as a government contractor at Vitro.

Bob spent his senior years full of life. He had a passion for buying merchandise from auctions and reselling it at yard sales and flea markets. He loved having a vegetable garden, but hated the squirrels that ate his tomatoes. He spent much of his free time helping his children with their house projects and when grandchildren arrived, he made them his priority. It was always a party at grandpa’s house with polka music, costumes, sliced fruit (with toothpicks) and ice cream. As the grandchildren got older, he rarely missed a school event, especially sports.

Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Rich, and sister, Joan. He is survived by his children, Bryan (Teresa), Martin (Beth), and Patrick (Sharon), and grandchildren Robert, Scott (Kristin), Nicole, Sarah (Holden Hegmann), Claire, Jack, and Michael. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife, Theresa, in the coming months.