David Victor Calvin Beecher ^{1 2 3}

   FamilySearch ID: L411-4XH.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1950 in Olney, Richland, IL. ⁴ The 1950 census recorded at 127 South Elliot St: Rev. David R. Beecher, clergyman, 40, living with wife Ruth, 34; Marcella M. 11; and Ruth J., 9, and David V. C., 3, born in Illinois. The other children were born in Nebraska, Ruth in Illinois and David Sr. in Pennsylvania.

2. Residence: on 11 Jun 1960 in Richmond, Henrico, VA. ³

3. Obituary: Lancaster News: Father, two sons killed in chemical explosion in basement of their house on 17 Mar 1993 in Lancaster, Lancaster, SC. ¹ Father, two sons killed in chemical explosion in basement of their house

David V.C. Beecher always enjoyed tinkering and fixing up old cars.

That lifelong passion played a role in the former Lancaster resident's death Saturday in Genesee, Wis.

Beecher and his two sons, Daren, 23, and Andrew, 13, were killed in a chemical explosion in the family's basement.

The three were cleaning a carburetor with solvents when a chemical reaction occurred causing the accident.

"I just think it was one of those freak things that happen," said brother-in-law Sandy Gainey. "He loved being around cars and he's the one that got me involved with them."

Beecher had called Gainey early Saturday morning and said they were going to get a carburetor and intake manifold.

"He said they were going to clean them up," said Gainey. "There may have been some gasoline in the carburetor, which caused a spark and then a flash fire. But I really don't know what happened."

The elder Beecher grew up in Lancaster where he was a popular person, Gainey said.

Beecher's father, the late David R. Beecher, was once pastor of Second Baptist Church and later started the University Baptist Church.

"Even though David was a mechanical engineer, he always wanted to be an auto mechanic," said his father-in-law Sam Gainey.

Beecher had other hobbies, including golf and hunting. Sam Gainey said.

"He was always around here when he was dating Vivian and after they got married," Sam Gainey said. "He was more like a son to me than a son-in-law."

David V.C. Beecher is survived by his wife, D. Vivian Gainey Beecher, formerly of Lancaster; two sisters, Marcelle Shaw of Scottsdale, AZ, and Ruth Williams of Lathorp, MD.

Graveside services will be held at 2 PM Saturday in Lancaster Memorial Park.

4. Letter: Written by David's wife, Vivian Gainey Beecher Flouhouse, 1994, Lancaster, Lancaster, SC. ⁵ David (Dave) Victor Calvin Beecher
April 21, 1946 - March 13, 1993

In 1966, after Dave's graduation from Lancaster Sr. High in 1964, he married Vivian Gainey, LSHS graduate of the Class of '63.

We had two sons, Darren Sean, born on July 13, 1969 and Andrew David, born on September 18, 1979.

Dave enrolled in The University of South Carolina School of Engineering and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 1976.

While in the School of Engineering, Dave was inducted into Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society) and Pi Mu Epsilon (Math Honor Society).

Upon graduation in 1976, Dave accepted a position with Torrington Company in Clinton, SC as a Project Engineer.

In 1978, Dave affiliated with Sunstrand Corporation in Bristol, VA as a Project Engineer.

In 1979, Dave accepted a Management position with Tennessee Electro Minerals in Greeneville, TN.

In 1980, Dave became Manufacturing Manager with Onan Corporation in Huntsville, AL.

In 1987, Dave affiliated with Mercury Marine as Manufacturing Manager in Oshkosh, WI.

In 1990, as Manufacturing Manager, Dave transferred with Mercury Marine to Stillwater, OK.

In 1991, Dave accepted a position as Director of Manufacturing/ Plant Manager with Waukesha Engines in Waukesha, WI.

In spite of Dave's career success, he was a person who made sure the production worker had a safe environment in which to work and always saw that their needs were met. He was well respected by his coworkers and everyone who worked for him.

Dave's hobbies were family outings, boating, restoring automobiles, hunting and golfing. We were members of First United Methodist Church in Waukesha, WI.

On March 13, 1993, Dave and our two precious sons, Darren and Andrew, lost their lives in a fire in our home in Waukesha, WI. Dave was a loving husband and father and both of us doted on Darren and Andrew. At the time of their deaths, Dave was 46, Darren was 23 and a recent graduate of Auburn University, and Andrew was 13.

For those of you who knew Dave, he was very outgoing, witty and well-liked by everyone. After knowing Dave, he was someone you could never forget. I know I will never forget Dave and our good life together. Dave definitely made a positive impact on my life and I am fortunate to have been his wife for almost 27 years. It has been 16 years since I lost Dave and our sons but I still love and miss all three of them.

Thanks for allowing me to share highlights from Dave's life after graduation from LSHS!

Vivian Beecher Flouhouse.

David married D. Vivian Gainey. (D. Vivian Gainey was born on 15 Apr 1945 ⁶.)