Frank W. Beach Jr.

Frank Whitefield Beach, Jr., was born in Norfolk to Frank and Katie Beach, the middle of three children. He graduated from Maury High School in 1939. In high school, he began taking photographs, and in 1939, had his first photograph of a building fire published in the Norfolk Ledger-Star. He moved to New York to study photography, then to Los Angeles. After World War II began, Frank enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served until 1945.

That year, he married Helen Carawan. They had one son, Frank III, and settled in North Carolina where Frank was a professional photographer. After their divorce, Frank joined the newly created Air Force and lived in Japan during the Korean War. Upon returning stateside, he was stationed at Dover AFB. In 1958, he married Jacqueline Russell Head, and added her children, Dale and Deborah, to his family. Later that year, Frank was assigned to Greenham Common Air Field in England, and Jacqui, Dale and Deb moved with him to Newbury. Frank and Jacqui had one son, David.

After returning to the States, the family lived in Newport News until Frank was sent to Southeast Asia where he served as an aircraft maintenance trainer in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Upon retirement, Frank worked in Norfolk at Tait’s Seed Store, owned by his father, for two years before relocating to Orlando. He was the building manager for the Orlando Museum of Art, overseeing its expansion to one of the premier museums in Florida. During this time, he began genealogical work on his own family, then parlayed that into yet another profession.

Frank moved to Arlington in 1994 and worked as the front desk concierge at Barton House Apartments where he also lived. He was a beloved staff member and a friend to all the tenants who lived there. During his time in Arlington, Frank continued his genealogical work and photography, winning several awards for his photographs with Arlington Arts.

Frank leaves behind his four children, a grandson, Michael Head, a granddaughter, Sarah Catherine Beach, four nieces and nephews, seven grandnieces and grandnephews, and many devoted cousins and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Arlington Funeral Home, Arlington, VA.