Viola S Beekey

Viola S. Beekey, 98, of Madison, NJ died Monday, October 1, 2007. She resided in West Lawn, PA from 1932 to 1952 and in Kutztown, PA from 1952 to 2000. Since 2000 she has lived in Madison with her daughter Lois. Her husband, Cyrus E. Beekey, former biology professor, Dean of Academic Affairs, and President of Kutztown State College, died in October 1974.

Born in Spring Township, Berks County, she was a daughter of the late John L. and Minnie F. (Beavens) Sweigart. Mrs. Beekey was a teacher of English in the Kutztown Area Junior High School from 1952 to 1972; prior to that she taught German, French and English at Wilson High School, West Lawn, from 1929 to 1933 and later served as a substitute teacher at Wilson and Birdsboro High Schools and the Kutztown State Laboratory School. Her teaching career covered more than 25 years. She was a 1925 graduate of Mohnton High School and received her A.B. degree from Ursinus College in 1929 where she majored in English and modern languages. She did her post-graduate work at Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Beekey was a member of the American Association of University Women for over 65 years and a past president of the Reading Branch. She was a life member of the Kutztown Historical Society and a former director and finance chairman. Other memberships included the Berks County Genealogical Society, the Lebanon County Historical Society, the Morris County (NJ) Genealogy Society and the Madison (NJ) Historical Society. She was also a life member of the National Education Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association. While living in West Lawn, Mrs. Beekey was a member of the West Lawn Story League and the Woman’s Club. During her term as president of the latter, she was instrumental in organizing the Junior Woman’s Club of West Lawn. In Kutztown she was active in the Kutztown University Foundation and served on its Board of Directors. In 1983 she received the Kutztown State College Alumni Citation for her years of service to the college and the community. She also belonged to the Kutztown Woman’s Club. Mrs. Beekey was a member of St. Paul’s UCC Church, Kutztown.

She is survived by Daughters, Dr. Lois E. Beekey, Madison, NJ and Sara Ann (Beekey) Pfaffenroth and husband Peter, Chester, NJ; Son, Dr. Cyrus E. Beekey, Jr. and wife Joan, York. PA; Grandchildren, Michael Beekey and wife Susan, Dr. Mark Beekey and wife Beth, Dr. Elizabeth Pfaffenroth Cartwright, Peter C. Pfaffenroth and wife Sonia, and Catherine Pfaffenroth; Great Grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew and Jasmine Beekey and Drake Kilmer Cartwright; Sister, Luetta (Sweigart) Slegel, King of Prussia.

Funeral Services are Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 12:00 Noon in the Ludwick Funeral Home, 333 Greenwich Street, Kutztown. Interment in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Myerstown. Friends may call Saturday from 11:00 to 12:00 Noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in her memory to be made to the Kutztown Area Historical Society, PO Box 307, Kutztown, PA 19530 or the Cyrus E. Beekey Memorial Fund, Kutztown University Foundation, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA 19530. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, PA.