US Army veteran
WAKEFIELD — Arthur James Beebe, Jr. age 95, of Wakefield passed away on June 1. He was born March 10, 1930, in New London, CT to the late Arthur James and Jeannette Beebe. He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters Janet Beebe and Joline Gnatek and brother-in-law Frank Gnatek.
Jim grew up in Niantic, CT, attending Niantic Center School and Bulkeley High School in New London, CT. He was a proud “Bulkeley Boy”. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1952 and was drafted into the US Army, serving in the Veterinary Corps. Jim and Ginny were married and moved to Washington State where he was stationed at Fort Lawton in Seattle in 1953-1954 during the Korean War.
He began his career with the US Food and Drug Administration in 1956 in Boston as an inspector, retiring 40 years later as Regional Director of Regions 1 and 2 after serving in FDA offices in Detroit (twice), Atlanta, Washington, DC and Boston (twice). He was stationed in Washington, DC when President Kennedy died and took his family to watch the President’s funeral parade on Pennsylvania Avenue.
In retirement, Jim and Ginny traveled and cruised to various countries around the world and to US National Parks and enjoyed the family farm in Niantic. Jim was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics and the Patriots.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years Virginia B. (Adams) Beebe of Wakefield; son Jeffrey W. and his wife Jeanne of Greeley, CO; daughter Linda B. Fabrizio and her husband Robert of Carlisle; and son Arthur J. Beebe III and wife Sharon of Wakefield. He leaves eight grandchildren: Dylan Beebe, Adam Beebe, Scott Beebe, Marissa Fabrizio, Mike Fabrizio, Amanda Fabrizio, Connor Beebe and Cameron Beebe; six great-grandchildren: Emmalyn, Madelyn, Delaney, Mackenzie, Bailey Belle and Jordan; and two nephews Mark and Dr. Dirk Yelinek, DVM. Jim is also survived by his faithful companion Mookie the beagle.
Private services will be held in October in Niantic, CT. Arrangements were in the care of McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield. In lieu of flowers donate to a charity of your choice or the Jimmy Fund. Visit mcdonaldfs.com.