William Cornelius Beal

William “Bill” Cornelius Beal, 84, of Seminole, Florida passed away on March 30, 2021. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Bill was born in Queens, NY to William and Leah Beal in 1936 and grew up in Rego Park, New York. He was a graduate of Forest Hills High School, class of June 1954. He served in the U. S. Navy Reserve as an Aviation Structural Mechanic Hydraulics First Class Petty Officer from 1953 -1966 and was honorably discharged.

In 1969, he again entered military service with the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve when he received an officer’s commission as Lieutenant Junior Grade. He rose within the ranks retiring in 1993 as a Captain (O-6), after 34 years total service, which included three years of active duty on Governor’s Island, NY.

After high school, he attended the Academy of Aeronautics, Queens, NY and the Teterboro School of Aeronautics, Teterboro, NJ receiving his FAA certification as an Aircraft and Engine Mechanic.

In 1956, he was hired by TWA at JFK International Airport as a FAA certified aircraft mechanic. He left this employment to pursue a college degree in education. After college graduation in 1960, he accepted a teaching position within the Freeport Long Island School District, Freeport, NY and taught Practical Arts Education. After one year, he transferred to the Lawrence Long Island School District, again teaching Practical Arts Education. He was later promoted to Chairman of the Practical Arts Education Department for both the high school and junior high school. He retired as a teacher and an administrator with 30 years of distinguished service.

When he was off during summers, he worked for the Long Island State Parkway Police as a Seasonal Police Officer, and as a Park Ranger with the Long Island State Park Commission, Belmont State Park, New York. He also served as Lead Instructor for the U. S. Coast Guard at their Yorktown, VA training facility serving on temporary special active duty.

Upon retirement, Bill moved from Long Island, NY to Arizona and resided in Chandler, AZ for five years, not one to stand still, he worked for Rice Aviation as an Instructor teaching students how to become FAA certified aircraft mechanics. When this program was being phased out, he accepted a position with the Arizona State Education Department working as a state official providing oversight regarding education programs.

After five years, he moved to Seminole, Florida to be near family and worked in security positions and worked for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department as a Fingerprint Technician and retiring after five years.

Bill held a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Education and a Professional Certificate in Education Administration and Supervision having attended New York University, City College of New York and Hofstra University. He also completed a special curriculum for military reserve officers at the Naval War College, Newport, RI.

Volunteer work included membership in the American Legion, Largo Police Volunteer in Largo, FL, officer in the Reserve Officers Association, New York Coast Guard Chapter and an active participant in the Coast Guard Academy’s Sponsor Program.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, William Charles Beal; mother, Leah Matilda Beal; wife, Myra and wife, Nancy;

Bill leaves behind his loving family that includes his daughter, Deborah Lebohner; sons, William Charles Beal and Robert John Beal; eight grandchildren, Jessica, Jami, Lea, Chris, Brian, David, Frankie and Lauren; one great grandchild, Carter Kash Geoghegan and his brother, John.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st Street N., Seminole, Florida 33776 / 727-391-0121