Roy Thomas Beal (1903 - 1944)

Born 26 Jan 1903 in New Florence, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 31 Dec 1944 at age 41 in San Rafael, Marin, California, United States

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Biography

Johnstown, PA: Johnstown Tribune, issue of Tuesday, 2 January 1945, p. 9, col. 1

R.T. Beal Dies; Cheated Death 2 Times in Flood

Was Former Resident Of New Florence; Had Served in Air Forces

NEW FLORENCE--Roy T. Beal, 41, who twice cheated death in the flood of 1936, died on Sunday at San Rafael, Cal., after a brief illness of pneumonia. The deceased was an honorably-discharged veteran of the Army Air Forces, having been given his discharge on June 9, 1943. He then entered the employ of the Curtiss-Wright factory at Buffalo, N.Y. Later Mr. Beal went to the West Coast, where he was employed at Bremerton, Wash., prior to going to San Rafael, where he worked in the shipyards.

During the St. Patrick's Day Flood of 1936 Mr. Beal was engaged in rescuing marooned people by means of a boat when the boat capsized. He struggled in the swift current and clung to the limb of a tree for some time until a house, which was being carried away by the flood waters, crashed into the tree.

Some time later the house was shattered by the water and Mr. Beal was again hurled into the swift current. He clung to debris for more than an hour before he was finally rescued by Black Lick firemen. A son of George W. and Mary (Ryan) Beal, he was born on Jan. 26, 1903, in West Wheatfield Twp., Indiana County. His father, a retired conductor, died on June 26, 1944. Prior to the flood of 1936 he worked for the Bethlehem Steel Company. The deceased was an uncle of Hugh A. Kells, who was killed when the U.S.S. Juneau was sunk on Nov. 13, 1942, and on which the five Sullivan brothers also perished. Five nephews are in the armed forces--Sgt. Norman Kells, Sgt. Eugene Killen, Sgt. George Killen, all in the Army; Air Cadet John P. Killen in the States, and Cpl. Emmon Beal, stationed in New Guinea.

Roy T. Beal was married to the former Pauline Haire of New Florence, who died in 1925. Surviving are a daughter, Miriam Beal, Ligonier, and these brothers and sisters: Mina, wife of J.P. Killen Sr.; Nora, wife of Hugh A. Kells Sr.; George, Russell and Arthur, all of New Florence; Grant, Stutzman St., Johnstown, and Mary, wife of W.C. Wallace, Waterford.

The remains will be removed to New Florence and taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kells. A military funeral will be held and burial will be in the Laurel Hill Cemetery under the direction of R.S. Wagner, local mortician.

Sources

• 1910 United States Federal Census Wheatfield, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Enumeration District 97; dwelling number 153; family number 156; line 29

• 1920 United States Federal Census West Wheatfield, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Enumeration District 131; sheet 2B; dwelling number 37; family number 38; line 74

• 1940 United States Federal Census West Wheatfield, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Enumeration District 32-67; sheet 23B; household 415; line 56

• Laurel Hill Furnace Cemetery, Saint Clair, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74068371/roy-thomas-beal