Shirley Joan (Rice) Beck, 85, of Lancaster, PA passed away Saturday evening at Hamilton Arms Nursing Home where she resided.

She was born June 4, 1930 in the village of Chickentown near Maytown, PA.  The daughter of the late Emerson Moser Rice and Florence Swope (Stamm) Rice, she was preceded in death by her brothers James Rice and Robert Rice.  She is survived by her sisters Betty (Rice, Danielsen) Richmond of Lititz, PA, Dorothy (Rice) Swope of Middleburg, PA and her brother Donald Rice of Elizabethtown, PA.  She was the widow of Ammon E. Beck who died in 1991.

Shirley was a loving matriarch who took pride in her family.

She has three children; Edward Randel Beck, husband of Tracey Beck, Borrego Springs, CA, Carol Joanne (Beck) Swain, wife of Michael Swain, Marietta, PA and Robert Steven Beck, husband of Mary Beck, Harrisburg, PA.

She has 8 grandchildren; Randall Beck of Lemon Grove, CA, Stacy (Vaughn) Springer of Lanc, PA, Stephen Vaughn of N.C., Robert Beck, Jr. of Landisville, PA, William Beck of Landisville, PA, Emily (Greider) Samuel of Lanc., PA, Eric Greider of Lanc., PA and Patrick Greider of Phila., PA.

She has 13 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Shirley graduated from Donegal High School in June of 1947 and had numerous career paths through the years including employment at RCA Corp., Hubley Manufacturing and Lanc. General Hospital.

Shirley enjoyed boating and the beach which she enjoyed with her family and the many friends that she considered part of her family.

Shirley’s beautiful smile, her quick wit and her love of music always left you with a smile.

She was a faithful member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Lanc, PA.  Shirley enjoyed the fellowship of the congregation as well as reading and studying the Bible.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 850 Hershey Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603.  Family & friends will be received at 1:00pm before the service.  Burial will follow at the Conestoga Memorial Park, 95 Second Lock Rd. Lancaster, PA, immediately following the service.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shirley’s favorite radio and TV Station; WITF, 4801 Lingle Rd. Harrisburg, PA  17111.