Burrus Everett Beard was born Aug. 12, 1890 to David Durham and Zaidee Mae Lesan Beard. He died Nov. 8, 1985 and is buried in the Dartford Cemetery, Green Lake, WI.
Capt. Beard served with the U.S. Army Air Corps
Obituary: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Nov. 20, 1985
Burrus E. Beard, 95, former superintendent of the Webster City schools, and widely known as a civic leader, churchman and longtime president of the Tourist Club at Ormond Beach, Fla., died Friday, Nov. 8 at Halifax Hospital in that community.
He was born in Mt. Ayr, Iowa and graduated from high school there. He received a B.A. degree from Des Moines college and later received a master degree in school administration from the University of Iowa.
He started his teaching career in Lohrville, and in 1917 was drafter into the U.S. Army serving with the 68th Infantry. After the end of World War I, he became a charter member of the American Legion.
He resumed his teaching at Manson, Lorimor and Northwood, coming to Webster City in 1930 and staying until 1942.
He received a direct commission as captain in the U.S. Air Force and taught at a B-52 bomber school. After his discharge and a brief stint with the Veterans’ Administration, he spent 10 years as service manager of the American Baptist Assembly at Green Lake, Wis. He retired in 1961 and moved to Florida, becoming associated with the Tourist Club which he served as president for more than 20 years.
He was married to Ethel Broholm in 1921 who preceded him in death in 1956.
In 1963 he married Ava Schnittjer, a former teacher in Webster City.
He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Joan Bailey and a nephew, Norma Armstrong, who was reared in the Beard home. Also surviving are two granddaughters, Mrs. Dennis Flynn and Jeanne Bailey, both of Urbana, Calif.
He was the organizer of the Baptist Laymen of Iowa and served as president for several years. In later years he worked at Halifax Hospital as the first male volunteer in the state of Florida. Mr. Beard served that organization for 10 years.
Source: ancestry.com
