Carol Crites Beck, 100, died peacefully on November 7, 2025 in Indianapolis after a brief illness. Ohio-born, she had moved to Indianapolis in 2007 to be near her older son, Douglas (Kathleen) Beck due to health reasons. Her younger son, Jonathan (Sharon) Beck lives in Boston, N.Y. southeast of Buffalo. Born July 14, 1925 to Roger and Bertha Crites in Tuscarawas, Ohio on the edge of Appalachia Carol grew up nurtured by her forbears Moravian (Unitas Fratrum) faith.
Earning degrees in Journalism (Kent State University), in Education (Master Teacher of Language Arts) and Ph.D. in Psychology (1987) she went on to work in each field. But the career she enjoyed most was being an “at home” mom for her two sons. She was married to Henry C. Beck for 54 years until his death in 2004 at the age of 85.
In Indianapolis, she was associated with a Red Hat group, a AAUW book group and the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Pennsylvania Street.
A memorial service will be held at Robin Run Village Senior Living in Indianapolis on Friday, November 21st at 10:00am followed by a memorial service in Kent, Ohio and interment there at a later date.
Carol is also survived by a sister, Lila West. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry in 2004 and siblings, Warren (Iona) Crites, Claude (Ida) Crites, Virginia (Terry) Hiller and Dorothy (Bill) Hewitt.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to WFYI - NPR.
Online condolences available at www.leppertmortuary.com
