William R. Beauchamp's Obituary
William Rayne Beauchamp, age 76, of Lewes, went home to Heaven to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, October 28, 2007, at Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, DE.
Bill was born in Berlin, Maryland, on August 23, 1931, to William Aubrey Beauchamp and Etzell Rayne Beauchamp, both natives of Berlin. When their only child was three years old, his father, in the Coast Guard, was transferred to Lewes. It was then that the family made Lewes their "home base" for the rest of their lives.
Youthful Bill Beauchamp enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and chose the military as his career. He met and married Joyce Martin of Shreveport, Louisiana, and while raising their three children resided in Scotland, Okinawa and eight different States. He was a flight engineer in the Air Force, responsible for maintenance on B-29s and B-52s. He qualified for a commercial pilot's license and flight instruction license while in the service.
In anticipation of retirement, he established All American Aviation of Louisiana, Inc., an air taxi service in Shreveport, Louisiana. The business was sold sometime later with, as Bill reported, "seven airplanes and a good reputation."
Meanwhile, back in Lewes, Delaware, Bill's parents were making an imprint on the community's commercial history. Etzell Beauchamp purchased the established ladies' wear business of Virginia Larrimore on Second Street, and the couple owned and managed Anglers Motel. They also initiated the tourist-related business of Lewes Tours, Inc., an effort to acquaint visitors with the historical aspects of Lewes.
The elder Beauchamps opted for retirement in 1971 at the same time Bill was concluding his military career. They offered to sell the tourist-related business to their son and his wife. Lewes Tours expanded into filling a need for transportation service for motel guests and river pilots upstate and to Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. The service developed into a fleet of cars, each with a driver.
During the busy years of entrepreneurship, Bill was heavily involved in efforts of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce; he served a term as President. Elected to the Lewes Board of Public Works for a period of 1975-1983, he served a term as President. He was an active member of the Lewes Fire Department for eight years.
A committed Christian during his adulthood, Bill has long fostered the faith-sharing work of Crown Financial Ministries and Bearing Precious Seed.
A member of the Groome United Methodist Church in Lewes, Bill was an ardent proponent of plans to build a new church on New Road. He was a member of the Building Committee.
Bill is remembered for his love of family, attention to detail, maintaining relationships with friends from high school and the military, and the sheer joy of serving his fellow man.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Joyce M. Beauchamp; his three children, Joyce Smith, Betty Brittingham and William R. Beauchamp, Jr., all of Lewes and preceded in death by his youngest child, Gwendolyn Beauchamp. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Rachel Barragan and her husband Patrick of Clovis, NM, Judith Brittingham, Billie Jo Cooper and her husband Guy, Matthew Brittingham, Shelly Beauchamp of Brigantine, NJ and John Beauchamp, all of Lewes except as noted; four great-grandchildren: Katelyn Skinner, Ryan Skinner, Isiah Brittingham and Derek Brittingham; and two aunts, Eunice Fisher of Berlin, MD and Doris Lewis of Salisbury, MD.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 1, 1 PM, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call on Wednesday evening 6-8 PM. Interment with military honors will be at Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Kings Highway, Lewes.
Please omit flowers. The family suggests contributions be made to Groome United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 299, Lewes, DE 19958.
Send online condolences to: [email protected]
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