Retired Jeep employee enjoyed outdoors, took pride in his yard

7/5/2002

David Beadle, who worked at the Toledo Jeep Plant for over 37 years and was an Army veteran, died of undisclosed causes in St. Luke's Hospital on Tuesday. He was 75.

Family described Mr. Beadle as a hard worker who enjoyed his time toiling in his yard and took pride in his projects.

“He was quiet for forceful,” said Nancy Beadle, his wife of nearly 38 years. “He was very set in his ways. He would listen to you and but also had his own opinion.”

Mr. Beadle served in the Army shortly after the end of World War II, from May, 1946, to September, 1947, Mrs. Beadle said. She said he never went overseas during his brief stint in the service but had many stories about the experience.

He worked at Jeep for 371/2 years before retiring in 1987. Mrs. Beadle said her husband enjoyed his time with Jeep and the many friends he made while working at the auto plant.

“He worked in the press shop and he was very proud of his work,” Mrs. Beadle said. “He liked it because if you knew your job, people just kind of left you alone and let you do it and he knew his job very well.”

After retirement, Mr. Beadle enjoyed the outdoors, particularly fishing and golfing, Mrs. Beadle said. In her husband's later years, she said, his yard became his passion.

“He took a lot of pride in his yard,” Mrs. Beadle said. “Every day he would go out and cut the grass, trim the bushes, plant flowers. He knew he could match our yard with anyone else. We decided a long time ago and he took care of the outside and I took care of the inside because I just wasn't as good as he was with the yard.”

Mr. Beadle is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters Debra Beadle and Pam Mikolajczyk, and four grandchildren.

Visitation for Mr. Beadle will be held at Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. Services will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.

The family requests that tributes be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio.