Robert O'Neal Beroth

He was born March 5, 1925 in Forsyth County to Marvin M. and Mary M. Beroth, (both deceased). He attended Vienna Elementary School, Oldtown High School and graduated from Reynolds High School. During WWII, he enlisted in the Navy and received basic training at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, MD. He received Naval Amphibious Training at Solomon, MD and Camp Bradford, VA. In November, 1943 he was assigned to USS LST 282 and He and the crew sailed the ship down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, LA. After receiving her guns mast and LCVP’s (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) LST 282 sailed to England in March 1944. On June 6, 1944, LST 282 participated in the Normandy Invasion and delivered troops and equipment of the 4th Infantry Company to Utah Beach. June 9, 1944, USS LST 282 delivered its cargo of 20 Sherman Tanks to the Normandy, Omaha Beach. August 15, 1944, LST 282 participated in the invasion of Southern France, where USS LST 282 received a direct hit from a German Ju88 Bomber. From this bombing there were many army and navy casualties. From the LST 282 crew of 111 Navy Serviceman, seventeen became immediate casualties, sixty-seven were wounded and Beroth was one of twenty-seven to escape without injury. October, 1944, he returned to New York City, NY, aboard the USS Tarzet and received a 30 day leave. January, 1945, he was assigned to USS LST 30, at Norfolk, VA. On August 14, 1945 LST 30 was in the New York City Harbor when President Truman announced the war was over. Beroth was at Time Square when the news was published by the Times News Building. In September 1945, LST 30 traveled through Panama Canal to San Francisco, CA. and then in November to Pearl Harbor. The war having ended, LST 30 returned to San Francisco, CA. On the return voyage, USS LST 30 participated in the rescue of the crew of a disabled B29 Bomber, which had to be ditched in the Pacific Ocean. From San Francisco, CA. USS LST 30 sailed through the Panama Canal to New Orleans, where it was decommissioned. He was discharged and returned to Olivet Church Rd, Forsyth County, NC.

While serving in the US Navy between March 4, 1943 and February 8, 1946, he earned eight service medals: and received five Commendations medals awarded by the Navy to WWII veterans. He and his ship participated in “Operation Overload” on June 6, 1944, for the Normandy D-day Invasion and participated in “Operation Dragoon” on August 15, 1944, for the invasion of Southern France. It was in “Operation Dragoon” were LST-282 was destroyed by a German radio-controlled bomb.

He attended High Point College and Wake Forest University and was employed by Western-Electric (AT&T/Lucent) for 37 years and eight months. On July 29, 1950 he married Lois Jane Wall, daughter of James G. Wall and Annie B. Wall, (both deceased). The marriage was held in Love’s United Methodist Church, Walkertown, NC. He and Jane began their residence on Olivet Church Rd. As a member of Olivet Moravian Church, he served as a Sunday School Teacher, assistant Superintendent of Sunday School, an Elder, a member of the Adult Choir, and a member of the Church Band. In November 1977 he and Jane relocated to Burlington, NC and joined the Graham Presbyterian Church, where he was ordained a Deacon and an Elder, served as chairman of the Strengthening Committee, and a member of the Chancel Choir. On July 9, 1988, he retired from AT&T and he and Jane relocated to the Midland Country Club, Pinehurst, NC, where they joined the Community Presbyterian Church. Here he served as a member of the Worship Committee, a member of the Building to Serve Committee, a representative to the Sandhills Coalition of Churches, and chairman of the Community Presbyterian Men’s Golf Association. He was a member of the Midland Country Club Men’s Golf Association, winning the club’s Men’s Golf Tournament twice. In May 1997, he and Jane relocated their residence to Clemmons, NC and joined the Clemmons Moravian Church.

He was a former member of the Vienna Civic Club, having served as its secretary and as a representative to the Board of Directors of the West Central Community Center. He was a member of the Pioneers of America and a life member of the Clemmons Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post No. 9010. He is the author of “My Journey to Bethabara”, “Clemmons Moravian Church History 1900-2000” and “Wachovia, A Peaceful Land.” Since 1995, he has devoted his time to researching family history in Pennsylvania and the early history of the Moravian Church in Pennsylvania and Wachovia. He is survived by his devoted wife Lois Jane of Regency Care in Clemmons. His sister Mary E. Mock and her husband, Philip H. Mock are deceased, also deceased, his brother, W. Allen Beroth. He is survived by four nieces and four nephews.

A Funeral Service will be conducted at Olivet Moravian Church on May 30, 2015 at 3:00pm, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Officiating the service is Rev. Ray Burke and Rev. Matthew Allen. Interment will follow in the Olivet Moravian Church Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions to the Robert O. and Lois Jane Beroth Trust fund; which is managed by the Moravian Ministers Foundation in American, 119 Brookstown Ave., Suite 305, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, would be appreciated.