Kenneth A. Beal, 76, of Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away peacefully at home April 23, with his family by his side following a long illness. He was the husband of Carol A. (Beherrell) Beal.
Born in Latrobe, Penn., June 19, 1939, he was the son of the late Laura Belle (Shaffer) Beal and George H. Beal and Maggie (Steadman) (Garner) Beal. He grew up and was educated in Ligonier, Penn.; Baltimore, Md.; and Graham, N.C. He was considered by many to be a true southern gentleman. In 1956, Beal was proud to join the U. S. Navy. He attended the naval ship “Aeolus” annual reunion often. Following his honorable discharge, he settled in Haverhill with his former wife Evelyn Grasso. He worked as a natural gas technician at Haverhill Gas Company from 1961 until his retirement in 1992. He was a member of the Duston Drifters Snowmobile Club where he enjoyed snowmobiling and maintaining trails, Retreads International since 1979 and the ROMEOs. Beal loved riding in the mountains of New Hampshire and enjoyed going to Americade at Lake George, N.Y. He was proud of his Kawasaki Classic Motorcycle and showed it at bike shows. In his younger years, Beal loved tinkering on antique cars and working in the pits at Pine Speedway. Later he enjoyed attending the Pine Speedway Reunions.
Besides his wife of 38 years, he is survived by brothers, Jerry Garner (Marguerite), of Burlington, N.C., Larry Beal (Eileen), of Converse, Texas; children, Laura Beal of Haverhill, Darlene Beal of Haverhill, Thomas MacRae (Laura) of Hampstead, N.H., Sharon Grasso of Plaistow, N.H., David MacRae (Lynn) of Danville, N.H., Corrine Frenier (Robert) of Attleboro, Crystal Jorden of Graham, N.C.; grandchildren, Lauren Abreu, Allison Banforth, Ashley Dennahey, Michael LeClair, Thomas MacRae, Kendra Van Jorden, Justin MacRae, Nicolas MacRae, Rebecca Gray, Kayliegh Frenier, Hunter MacRae, Jeff MacRae and Marcelina Burrows; seven great grandchildren; Thomas “Chip” White, who is considered a son, sister-in-law Edna Smith (Ed); nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his brother Richard Garner.
Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in Kingston, N.H. Local notice provided by Dole, Childs and Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main St., Haverhill.