Alva "Gene" Beckham

Alva “Gene” Beckham was born December 4, 1926 in Mulberry, Arkansas and lived most of his life in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Susan Almeda “Peggy” Hayslip-Rector. Gene and Peggy were married on January 22, 1947, in Fort Smith.

Gene was employed at OK Foods for more than 70 years, taking time off to fight in WW II, stationed in Japan and Korea. He began his employment at OK Foods sewing feed sacks together, then worked shoveling grain out of the train cars and was promoted to Superintendent for the mills in Fort Smith and Heavener for a combined 40 years. He retired in 1996, only to return three days later and finally retired in 2017.

He enjoyed coon hunting and was a member of the American Coon Hunters Association. He also enjoyed fishing, and watching his three sons play baseball, often from his office window at the mill, when the boys had games at Lions and Andrews fields.

He is survived by his three sons, Darrell and his wife, Char of Tampa, Florida, David and his wife, Patsy of Booneville, Arkansas, Daniel and his wife, Debbie of Fort Smith, Arkansas; daughter Delores and her husband, Greg Hurd of Fort Smith; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers are Aaron Beckham, Brandon Beckham, Caleb Beckham, Beau Beckham, Malachi Beckham, Ethan Beckham and Daniel Beckham.

Honorary Pallbearers are employees of OK Foods.

Funeral service will be 1 PM, Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Fort Smith National Cemetery will full military honors. Services are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home.