Wilbur Baker Beckwith

On May 7, 2016, Wilbur B. Beckwith, 86, passed away at home in Niantic, a place he lived most of his life. He passed peacefully in the presence of his family after suffering a short illness with Acute Leukemia.

He was born October 19, 1929 in New London, the son of Dwight W. Beckwith and Ruth (Watrous) Beckwith. He is survived by his sister Margaret Beckwith (MacDonald) Stone of Niantic, a niece, Nancy Taylor (Geoffrey) of New London, a nephew, Scott MacDonald (Lizetta) of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and a grandniece and Grandnephew.

He will be missed by his family and many friends.

He was a graduate of Chapman Technical High school, class of 1 947. He was awarded a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut.

He retired after many years’ employment at Plastic Wire and Cable Co. in Jewett City. He also retired from the State Of Connecticut as an adjunct instructor at Norwich Technical College.

In addition to the gatherings of the family he loved, Wilbur enjoyed camping and traveling, particularly exploring his “north country”, the forests and waters of northern New England. The area around the Fourth Connecticut Lake was his favorite. He made several memorable canoe trips with friends and nephew down the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Wilbur was a teacher and researcher who loved history and genealogy especially relating to local people and places. He was a quiet, reserved man, but he found joy in sharing his vast knowledge with anyone interested.

He held membership in the Connecticut Society of Genealogy. He was a member of the East Lyme Historical Society and served 25 years as treasurer and 48 years as historian. He served as East Lyme Town Historian for 12 years. He was very interest in old cemeteries and was a founding member of the East Lyme Historic Cemetery Association and a member of the Old Stone Church Burial Ground Committee. Wilbur was proud to hold the longest membership in the Niantic Community Church.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 28th at 2 PM at the Niantic Community Church, 170 Pennsylvania Ave, Niantic.

Memorial contributions may be made of the Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203-5300

Fulton Theroux Funeral Home Niantic is in charge of arrangements.