Gerald Thomas Beecher ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

   Another name for Gerald was Sonny Beecher.^{4 9}

   FamilySearch ID: L687-N6S.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1940 in Newville, Cumberland, PA. ¹⁰ The 1940 census recorded two Beecher families as close neighbors on Rural Delivery route 1 in Newville:

John Beecher, widowed, 80, was living with his daughter, Ella Beecher, 46; son Paul, bulldozer operator, 30; daughter Winifred, 10; and son Glenn, 9. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

Samuel Beecher, 34, was living with wife Elizabeth D., 34; Leona, 13; Gerald, 12; Margaret, 9; Richard, 7; Mary, 4; Joan, 1. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. No one had an occupation listed.

2. Newspaper: News-Chronicle: For Sale - Invalid's wheel chair, in first class condition. Gerald T. Beecher, Chambersburg R. R. 1 Along Scotland state road at Burgner station. Phone Chambersburg 912-R-23.", 28 Sep 1948, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ¹¹

3. Newspaper: News-Chronicle: For Sale - Invalid's wheel chair, in first class condition. Gerald T. Beecher, Chambersburg R. R. 1, Along Scotland state road at Burgner station. Phone Chambersburg 912-R-23., 28 Sep 1948, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ¹¹

4. Newspaper: News-Chronicle:, 26 Jul 1949, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ⁴ Gerald t. (Sonny) Beecher, son of Mr. and mrs. S. A. Beecher of Walnut Bottom, who makes his home with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Miller of Burgner Station, has entered the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation center at Saunton, Va., for physiotherapy and training.

5. Census in 1950 in Greene Twp., Franklin, PA. ¹² The 1950 census recorded Samuel J. Miller, 79, living with wife Mary C., 80; daughters Lillie Miller, 51, and Mary Miller, school teacher in Mary Sharp School for Dumb, 48; son Samuel Miller Jr., 37; and grandchildren Leona Beecher, 23; Gerald Beecher, store keeping in little store, 22, invalid; and Margaret Beecher, seamstress for men's suit manufacturer, 19. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

6. Newspaper: News-Chronicle: Gerald T. (Sunny) Beecher near Scotland has returned home after illness in the Chambersburg hospital.", 22 Sep 1953, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ¹³

7. Newspaper: News-Chronicle: Card of Thanks from Gerald T. Beecher, 7 Jan 1955, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ¹⁴ Card Of Thanks. I wish to say a sincere Thank You to each one of my friends who have visited and patronized my little shop, The Golden Lantern, during 1954 located on Chambersburg R. R. 1 at Burgner's Station. I wish you a very happy New Year.
Gerald T. Beecher,
owner and manager.

8. Newspaper: News-Chronicle: Gerald Beecher in Hospital, 1 Apr 1955, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ¹⁵ Gerald, Leona and Margaret Beecher and Mary I. Miller, Chambersburg R. R. 1, near Scotland, also Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beecher of Shippensburg R. R. 1 were Sunday, Mar. 20 visitors at the Elizabethtown State hospital for Crippled Children. The group toured the new buildings of the institution which celebrated its 25th anniversary Mar. 21. Gerald Beecher spent 33 months as a patient at the hospital over a period of years.

9. Newspaper: Public Opinion: Gerald Beecher Donated New Roof, 3 Jun 1971, Chambersburg, Franklin, PA. (photo) Lend Helping Hand - Neightbors from the Mennonite Disaster Service put a roof on the home of Gerald Beecher, R. R. 1, last week. The disaster service funishes free labor, whenever and wherever needed, to those less fortuante. The group who helped with the Beecher roof were from the Chambersburg Mennonite Church, under the direction of Leonard Shane. Beecher is confined to a wheelchair and is unable to do manual labor.

10. Newspaper: News-Chronicle: "Gerald Beecher, Chambersburg R. D. 1, Is a surgical patient in room H-368 of the Hershey Medical Center.", 6 Aug 1974, Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA. ¹⁶

11. Residence: 5034 Altenwald Rd, Waynesboro, PA, 17268 in 1984 in Waynesboro, Franklin, PA. ⁸

12. Residence: Leader Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Chambersburg, PA on 8 Mar 1984 in Chambersburg, Franklin, PA. ⁹

13. Newspaper: Public Opinion: Marriage Licenses: Gerald Thomas Beecher, 56, 1070 Stouffer Ave., and June Marie Shepard, 30, 5371 Spruce St., 5 Jun 1984, Chambersburg, Franklin, PA. ⁷

14. Newspaper: Public Opinion: Fayetteville man hopes to get new wheelchair for Christmas, 14 Dec 1990, Chambersburg, Franklin, PA. ¹⁷ FAYETTEVILLE -- Gerald T. Beecher has had cerebral palsy since birth. Over the years, learning to cope with his condition has not been easy, but the 61-year-old has managed with help from friends, professionals and family. Since May, it's been a little harder to cope because Beecher lost the use of his electric wheelchair and had to start using a manual chair again, which has proven to be uncomfortable. Beecher had a hand operation in May which, he said, exaggerated the curvature of his spine. With his arm in a sling, he spent almost three weeks on his couch, until it was believed he could use his chair again. An attempt to become mobile again, however, resulted in the chair upsetting and Beecher back in a sling, this time with a broken arm. Since then the wheelchair has been sold, because he was unable to use it and he and his wife, June, are trying to buy a more comfortable model. The $6,594 chair has a cushioned bucket seat, Beecher said, somewhat like a car seat. "While riding in an automobile, I notice that I don't have any pain," Beecher said. He said he has tested a similar chair and found it was more comfortable than his unpadded manual wheelchair because it provides more support for his back. "I can sit in a bucketseat for a whole day and not have a pain in the world," Beecher said. "I know this is the answer to my problems." A trust fund at F&M Trust Co. has been established to raise $1,700 to help the Beechers pay for the new electric chair. The couple's insurance company will pay the remaining $4,900. The Beechers church, Guilford Hills Independent Baptist Church is the trustee for the fund. Beecher will be 62 years old on Dec. 27. "Getting a new chair would be a Christmas present and a birthday present, both," said June Beecher. Anyone who is interested in contributing to the "Gerald Beecher Trust Fund," can send donations to F&M Trust Co., 20 S. Main St., or P.O. Box T, Chambersburg, Fa. 17201.

15. Newspaper: Public Opinion: Fund for new wheelchair nears its $1,700 goal, 18 Jan 1991, Chambersburg, Franklin, PA. ¹⁸ A trust fund established to help a Fayetteville man buy a wheelchair has reached $1,559. Gerald T. Beecher, who has had cerebral palsy since birth, needs to buy a new electric wheelchair. Insurance will pay $4,900 of the $6,594 cost. The trust fund to raise $1,700 has been set up at F &M Trust Co. The trust fund for Beecher, 61, was established in mid-December.

16. Newspaper: Public Opinion: Letters to the editor: Thanks for the wheelchair, 9 Apr 1991, Chambersburg, Franklin, PA. ¹⁹ ---
Letters to the editor
---
Thanks for wheelchair
---
Recently, I submitted a letter requesting contributions to help me purchase a new wheelchair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who gave so freely. The new wheelchair has been purchased, and there was a small amount of money left over. The extra money will be set aside and used for any repairs that may need to be made in the future. I would like to once again thank all those who made it possible for me to purchase the new wheelchair. Gerald Beecher, Fayetteville.

17. Residence: on 3 Aug 1993 in Fayetteville, Franklin, PA. ²⁰

18. Obituary: The Sentinel on 19 Dec 2002 in Carlisle, Cumberland, PA. ^{1 3} Gerald T. Beecher, 74, of 27 Forest Ave., Fayetteville, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, in Chambersburg Hospital.
Born Dec. 27, 1927, in Hockersville, he was a son of the late Samuel A. and Elizabeth (Miller) Beecher.

Mr. Beecher was the owner and operator of the former Golden Lantern General Store, Scotland, and a member of Grace Baptist Church, Chambersburg.

He was also a lifetime member of the Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Co. and a former member of Greene Township Lions Club. He served on the Board of Pregnancy Ministries of Chambersburg.

He is survived by his wife, June M. (Shepard) Beecher, whom he married on June 5, 1984; a brother, Richard of Carlisle; six sisters, Leona Beecher and Mary Frengel, both of Shippensburg, Margaret Widney and Nancy Sommerville, both of Chambersburg, Joan Ashburn of Carlisle, and Becky Gallucci of Cape Neddick, Maine.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Grace Baptist Church, 2475 McCleary Drive, Chambersburg, with the Rev. Robert O. Carr officiating. Burial will be in Parklawns Memorial Gardens, Chambersburg.
Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. Monday in the church.

Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, Chambersburg, is in charge of the arrangements.

The family requests the omission of flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to his church at 2475 McCleary Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201.

Gerald married June Marie Shepard, daughter of James Vincent Shepard II and Betty Jane Daywalt, on 5 Jun 1984.¹ (June Marie Shepard was born on 29 Jun 1953 in Franklin Twp., Adams, PA ²¹.)