Ned Lewis Beaman

Ned Lewis Beaman was born on April 11, 1927, in Murray, KY, to Lewis Harvey and Lala Ray Beaman, and passed away on March 14, 2011, at Spanish Meadows Nursing Home near Katy, TX, just short of his 84th birthday.

He lived in Murray, KY until the age of twelve, when he moved with his parents and four siblings to Houston, Texas, where his father had been fortunate to find a job as a mechanic at Lester Goodson Pontiac in the final years of the Great Depression. Ned left high school to serve his country in the U.S. Navy in April of 1945. He celebrated the end of World War II while at basic training in San Diego and completed his service on the Pacific island of Guam. Following discharge in July of 1946, he returned to Houston, graduating from San Jacinto High School in 1947.

After attending Howard Payne University in Brownwood, TX, he transferred to the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he received a diploma in 1949. Ned returned to Houston to begin a lifelong career in General Aviation. In addition to several pilot ratings, he received both his Airframe and Engine and his Inspection Authorization Certifications from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, predecessor to the current Federal Aviation Administration. His employment in the Houston area included work as mechanic and pilot at Grove Valve Co. at Andrau Airport and Chief Inspector at Houston Beechcraft at Hobby Airport

Following several years of self employment as a mechanic and inspector at his own establishment, he retired from Lane Aviation in Rosenberg, Texas in 1993.

In 1965, he moved his family with then wife Mildred Baker Beaman to northern Brazoria County to set up a homestead and Redwing Aerodrome, later renamed Beaman Airpark, currently shown on FAA charts as the Flyin’ B (39R). Over 45 years, he watched rice fields become shopping centers and residential subdivisions in the Pearland/Manvel area. His children attended Manvel Elementary and Manvel Junior High, and all graduated from Alvin High School. They each retain fond memories of many special teachers and friends from those years.

Ned was ordained as a deacon in 1963 at Second Baptist Church of Houston. He raised his children at Almeda Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and worked in boys’ Sunday School classes, and Houston’s First Baptist Church, where he was active in the Single’s Ministry. His four children have strived to follow the example of Christian service shown to them by parents and grandparents, as each of them are actively serving with their families in their local church, and “Pops” was able to see the oldest five of his seven grandchildren be baptized after they each accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Although a self avowed monotone, he greatly enjoyed experiencing the various amateur musical performances of his children and grandchildren throughout the years.

He is survived by his children; daughter, Amy and husband, Kevin Pence, of Carlsbad, NM, son, James and wife, Martha McKenzie Beaman, of Friendswood, TX, daughter, Brenda and husband, David Parker, of Manvel, TX, son, Barry and wife, Sharon Jones Beaman of Katy, Texas; also sisters, Dixie Beaman Cochran and husband, Jeff, and Joan Beaman Littlefield, brother, Paul Beaman and wife Marilyn, and sister in law Mrs. Ray Beaman. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Katherine Beaman, Cody Beaman, Kyle Beaman, Austin Parker, Travis Beaman, James Parker, and Gary Parker, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Ned was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Harvey Beaman and Lala Artimis Ray, and brother, Ray Beaman. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 18, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2011 beginning at 3 p.m. in the Main Chapel at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home with interment to follow in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be James Beaman and his son, Kyle, Barry Beaman and son, Cody, and David Parker and son, Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the church fund or charity of your choice.