Miles Griffith Beard died March 23, 2006, in Mishawaka, Indiana, at Fountainview Place, a residential nursing home where he had resided since January 2005. He was three weeks short of 88 when he died.

Born April 14, 1918, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to the late George Irvin and Bernice (Griffith) Beard, Mr. Beard grew up in South Bend, Indiana, on Kinyon Street with his younger brothers, Max and Bruce. Mr. Beard graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1936 and attended University of Chicago before joining the military in 1940. He served in the Philippines as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army until 1945, commanding troops in Manila. On November 19, 1949, in South Bend, Indiana, he married Elizabeth Ann Smith née Doyle, a divorcée with two daughters from her prior marriage.

Mr. Beard worked at UniRoyal in Mishawaka, Indiana, for 30 years before retiring. He was a member of United Rubber Workers Local #65 and for many years a member of the Northern Indiana Philatelic Society. Over his life, he enjoyed stamp collecting, fishing, gardening, working on his cars, and having a good beer. From 1949 until 2004, he lived on Palau Avenue in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Mr. Beard had a massive stroke in early 1999. The stroke left him severely brain damaged and partly paralyzed on his right side.

Mr. Beard had four children -- a daughter and three sons: Alice, Jesse, Dale, and Rex.

Mr. Beard's remains were laid to rest at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana. Interred near his burial site are the mortal remains of his parents and his brother Max.

Miles G Beard