George "Sam" Beard

George "Sam" Beard, 81, of Flat Rock, IL, passed away on March 21, 2023, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on January 24, 1942, the son of Henry A. & Jessie F. (Anderson) Beard. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1960-1963, and spent a good portion of his time stationed overseas in Vietnam and Germany. Following his discharge at the rank of SP4, he came home to marry the love of his life, Glennda Roseman, and the two were united in holy matrimony on July 19, 1963. To this union were born three beloved children, Denise, Michelle, and Dwight.

Sam worked hard to provide for his family and did so by way of Labor Local #1197. Through the years, Sam did good work for employers like American Steel and the Sheehan Pipeline Construction Company (a contractor with the Marathon refinery). He also did innumerable jobs as a skilled carpenter. He would have told you that nothing brought him more joy than working with his hands and that he felt most at home building something. In fact, he and Glennda eventually got into furniture building and wood crafting and donated many items for local auctions and raffles over the years. He also involved himself with a number of area organizations, including the Robinson Moose Lodge #1369, the Flat Rock American Legion Post #132, and the Flat Rock Masonic Lodge #348, where he was a Past Master. A man of faith, he worshipped at the Highland Avenue Baptist Church in Robinson as well as the Outer West Market Church of Christ in Palestine.

It must be said that Sam Beard was a man of soft heart and deep devotion. He fully committed himself to his God, his country, his community, and his family, especially to his wife, Glennda, whose death on June 23, 2022, rocked him to his core. We find comfort in knowing that, by the grace of God, they are together again, both now and forever.

A special "thank you" to Good Samaritan Hospice, especially to Ashton, for all your love, care, and support. And thank you to those family and friends, like Larry Corder, who stood by Sam as he made his journey to his eternal home with his Heavenly Father.

He is survived by his children, Denise (Beard) & Frank Wells (Hutsonville, IL), Michelle (Beard) & Tom Staley (Palestine, IL), and Dwight & Richele Beard (Flat Rock, IL); his grandchildren, David Stout, Kyle Stout, Karen Mattingly, Candi Howard, Levi Staley, Dustin Staley, Whitney Beard, and Zack Beard; by seventeen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; by his sister, Rose Bledsoe (Robinson, IL); as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 59 years, Glennda Beard; his great-grandson, Orville Stout; his parents, Henry A. & Jessie F. Beard; his parents-in-law, Charles & Florence Roseman; his brothers, Clyde, Paul, and Virgil Beard; and six sisters, Helen Williams, Ruby Hatfield, Vera Shears, Kathryn Murphy, Viola Wartsbaugh, and Thelma Levels.

A time of visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. Masonic services will immediately follow and will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by a funeral service officiated by Pastor Tim Watson. For those unable to attend, a live stream of the service will be available at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream .

Burial will be in the Hardinville Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the combined units of the U.S. Army, the Robinson V.F.W. Post #4549, the Robinson American Legion Post #69, and the Flat Rock American Legion Post #132. Memorial contributions may be made to his memorial fund, with checks made payable to "Goodwine Funeral Homes".