Robert Milton 'Bob' Beckwith

b 09 Jul 1928, Chicago, Cook, Illinois			Hans Christoph Moritz von_Beschwitz	>
		Wolf Leopold Moritz von_Beschwitz	Henriette Agnes von_Gersdorff	>
	Moritz Georg 'George' von_Beschwitz	b 14 Nov 1826	D. Ernst von_Schwemler
	\| b 31 Jan 1867	Johanna Maria Magdalena von_Schwemler	Emilie Krummel
Milton Miles Beckwith	d 08 Mar 1945	b 27 Nov 1834	Lucius Russel Wheeler	>
\|b 27 Sep 1901	\|	Edmund Lyons Wheeler	Sarah (Lurith) Roberts
\|d 25 Aug 1981	Maude Eleanor Elizabeth Wheeler	b 20 Apr 1845	Samuel Joseph Smith
\|	b 29 Aug 1873	Eleanor Elizabeth Smith	Eleanor Elizabeth Perrington	>
Robert Milton Beckwith	d 03 Sep 1961	b 01 Nov 1853	Francis Andrew Mateer	>
\|Jeanette Lee Clabo		Samuel Alexander Mateer	Catherine Ann Barnes
\|m 25 Aug 1950	Fred De_Loss Mateer	b 09 Jan 1843	John Butler	>
\|Pigeon Forge, Sevier, Tennessee	\|b 08 Sep 1876	Mary Charlotte Butler	Martha Wells	>
Marjorie Ruth Mateer	d 12 Dec 1971	b 28 Jun 1850	Alexandor T. Ridenour	>
b 08 Jan 1904	\|	Daniel Webster Ridenour	Sara T. Lay
d 12 May 1994	Blanche Ridenour	b 19 Nov 1841	Alfred Sawyer
	b 13 May 1882	Anna Olivia Sawyer	Lury Ann Macomber Fay	>
	d 18 Nov 1974	b 22 Jan 1848

Children

1	<	Robert Shields Beckwith
2	<	John Ridenour Beckwith
3		David Lynn Beckwith

Notes

Bob learned to play piano at an early age and kept it as a hobby most of his life, thus carrying on the family musical tradition. As a teenager, he joined the Boy Scouts of which his father was the leader. In high school he attended Lane Technical magnet school in Chicago, Illinois.

World War II ended before Bob was of draft age. He then attended two years at the University of Illinois Navy Pier campus in Chicago and completed his bachelor's degree in education at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois.

Bob met his bride Jeanette while on a family trip to the Tennessee mountains. In 1953, he took his wife and first son 200 miles south of Chicago to Decatur, Illinois to take on a 6th grade teaching position. To satisfy his musical interest and tradition, he led the school choir.

In able to support a growing family, Bob also took on part time work in a local grocery store. Even so, he was able to complete a Masters degree in education from the University of Illinois in Champaign.

In 1963, Bob joined the Illinois Education Association to represent teachers throughout the state of Illinois. He then moved his family to Lombard, Illinois, a suburb twenty miles West of Chicago.

Bob kept his piano skills tuned by accompanying his children in their musical recitals. He also became known for his whistling skills and he often could be heard belting out melodic tunes.

In 1968, Bob took on the position of Education Manager of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. There he worked closely with state educators and legislators. When he retired, the Illinois State Senate and House both declared the day "Robert M. Beckwith day" by official proclamation.

Bob retired 1 January 1993 and is presently residing with Jeanette in Sevier County, Tennessee.

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