Miles Griffith Beard

April 14, 1918 - March 23, 2006

Miles Griffith Beard, died March 23, 2006, in Mishawaka at Fountainview Place, where he had resided since December 2004. He was 87.

Born April 14, 1918, in Indianapolis to the late George Irvin and Bernice (Griffith) Beard, Mr. Beard grew up on South Bend's Kinyon Street with his younger brothers, Max and Bruce (both deceased). Mr. Beard graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1936 and attended University of Chicago before joining the U.S. Army in 1940. He served in the Philippines as a master sergeant until 1947, commanding troops in Manila. On November 19, 1949, in South Bend, he married Elizabeth Ann Smith née Doyle.

Mr. Beard worked at UniRoyal for 30 years before retiring. He was a member of URW Local #65 and for many years a member of the Northern Indiana Philatelic Society. Over his life, he enjoyed stamp collecting, fishing, gardening, working on his cars, and having a good beer. From 1949 until 2004 he lived on Palau Avenue in the Normain Heights neighborhood of Mishawaka. He lost his brothers in 1988 and 1990.

Mr. Beard had a massive stroke in early 1999.

Mr. Beard's wife survives. Additionally, Mr. Beard is survived by a daughter and three sons: Alice Marie (Bethesda, MD), Jes (Chattanooga, TN), Dale (believed to be in South Korea), and Rex (Carmel, IN); and he is survived by six grandchildren (Josh, Sabrina, Kate, Lora, Alex, and Sarah), three nieces (Mary Frances, Fern Marie, and Laura Lea), three nephews (Tom, John, and Robb), and a sister-in-law (Naomi). Also surviving are two stepdaughters, daughters of his wife from her first marriage.

Mr. Beard's final resting place will be St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. Interred near his burial site are the mortal remains of his parents, his brother Max, and his sister-in-law Mabel.

His daughter has written about his life at this internet site: http://members.aol.com/wjwildcat/

Prayers for the repose of his immortal soul are welcome. Bubb's Funeral Home has handled arrangements.