Beatrice Dennison Alexander

Beatrice Dennison Alexander, 92, passed away on June 29, 2024, after a short stay in hospice at home in Alexandria, VA, with her husband, Lyle by her side. Beatrice was born April 4, 1932 in Portland ME to Herbert and Maud Dennison, and lived in Yarmouth through high school. She graduated in 1950 from North Yarmouth Academy, representing her school at Maine Girls State and excelling in domestic studies and activities. After high school, Bea moved to Washington, DC to work at the Veterans Administration in the old Quonset huts near the reflecting pool. Her adventurous spirit led her to apply for an overseas assignment with the Department of the Army. She was assigned to Japan, where she worked for the Office of the Surgeon General at Headquarters, US Army Forces Far East at Camp Zama. Bea bought a car and had adventures including driving to Kyoto with her dear friend Grace Rose, who plotted their route through various US military outposts where they could refill the gas tank. Bea met Lyle King Alexander at Camp Zama, and they married June 29, 1957, beginning a 67 year journey of wonderful experiences, raising four children, and traveling the world with life long friends.

Bea was the consummate military wife for 30 years, an excellent hostess, and her dinner parties were works of wonder. Bea was highly skilled and active — a gourmet cook and cake decorator, talented artist and needleworker, and tireless gardener. She studied Ikebana flower arranging in Japan, frequently entering competitions at flower shows. At the urging of a friend who observed her regularly walking in her neighborhood, Bea competed in the regional Senior Olympics, qualifying during her first competition for the National Senior Olympics one-mile fast walk event and placing second at age 87.

After 30 years of moving with Army assignments, and several years in Fairfax County, Bea and Lyle enjoyed over 30 years in the retirement home they built on a lake in the Greenbrier golf community in New Bern, NC. Bea golfed regularly and for ten years created stunning themes and centerpieces for the Ladies Golf Association social gatherings. She was a dedicated Master Gardener, actively volunteering in Craven County for over 25 years, with many young Master Gardeners, awed by Bea’s energy, confiding to her family that they wanted to be Bea when they were old. Bea and Lyle moved to Alexandria in 2023, settling into assisted living at Paul Spring Retirement Community to be closer to family.

Bea is survived by her husband, Lyle; children, Scott (Leslie) of Charlotte, NC; Susan (Christopher Durr) of Alexandria and St. Pete, FL; Diane Magnuszewski (Steve) of Warrenton and Reedville; and David (Robin White) of Minneapolis; six grandchildren (Katelynn (Christian Newhan) of Portland, OR; James (Emily) and Maxwell of St Louis, MO; Cameron and Kayleigh Durr of Alexandria; and PFC Alexander Durr, USA, of Ft Riley, KS; great grandchild, Lucia Newhan; and niece and nephews in California, Washington, North Carolina, and Maine. Bea’s parents, sister, Barbara Robinson, and brother, Herbert Dennison, predeceased her.

Bea will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.