Mona Wilson Beard

Mona passed away September 9, 2024 in Charlottesville Virginia. She was born November 25, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York to Mona Towson Wilson and Junius Pendelton Wilson Jr. followed by siblings Junius Pendelton Wilson III and Virginia Ruth Wilson. She was preceded in death by her husband Willard Frederick Beard (retired Air Force Major) and her siblings. She is survived by her daughters, Virginia (Richard) Van Andel and Barbara (Stephen) Scott; grandchildren Ethan (Kate) Van Andel, Seth Van Andel, Daniel Scott, and Lauren Scott; her brother’s daughters Joanne (Don) Larimer and Susan (Mark Baron).

Mona graduated from high school at Cathedral School of St. Mary, Garden City, NY. She earned a degree in history from Sweet Briar College, Amherst County, VA and was a lifelong supporter of the college, its equestrian programs, and women’s education in general. She went on to complete a Masters in Education from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. During her many years as a middle and high school teacher, she taught full time or as a substitute at Bethpage High School and Garden City High School on Long Island, NY; Saint Andrew’s Priory School, Assets School, and Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii. She also served as Dean at Saint Andrew’s Priory.

Mona grew up on Long Island New York with extended periods with her grandmother in Cleveland or in Florida as a respite from severe allergies. As a single adult she made several life changing trips to France and the Netherlands as a group member or leader for the Experiment in International Living. These excursions helped shape her into someone who valued a diversity of friends, appreciation for other cultures and traditions, and a global perspective on life. This was reinforced by the interesting places she lived as an Air Force wife: Portsmouth NH, Rome NY, Montgomery AL, Arlington MA, Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Honolulu HI, and finally Charlottesville VA. Mona passed on these values to all her descendants.

Mona and Willard married on July 27, 1957. The two had first crossed paths at a Christmas social gathering, where Mona, intrigued by Will’s Air Force uniform, inquired about the bus company he worked for. She then backed her car over his foot.

Although she was a shy sickly child, Mona developed into an outgoing, independent woman. She came to love classroom teaching and informal mentoring friendships. She successfully raised her daughters far from family and support networks, often with her husband on military deployment for extended periods. She modelled long term commitment through adversity.

Mona was passionate for the welfare and appreciation of animals, especially horses and dogs, and will be remembered for the many yellow Labrador Retrievers who were excellent companions over the years. She was an AKC Tracking Judge and mentor. In retirement, she became an active therapy dog volunteer, helping to organize a local Charlottesville therapy dog group in affiliation with national organizations and certify dog/handler teams to improve the effectiveness and enjoyment of dog therapy work. A lifelong learner and interested in history and politics, she held a deep appreciation Charlottesville’s history and was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mona was a generous and supportive mother, grandmother, and friend.

Always a combination of kindness and wit, she made many close friends among the residents at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge. Mona and her family are so appreciative of the associates and staff, all of whom were so helpful and supportive of her over the years. We miss her.

Please visit TeagueFuneralHome.com to share memories or condolences and find additional memorial information. In lieu of flowers, Mona would have suggested donations to the Morris Animal Foundation https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/tribute or Sweet Briar College https://www.sbc.edu .