Dec 1, 2018

Martha W. “Chub” Beard, 91, of Washington, formerly Hickory, passed away Saturday, December 1, 2018, in Washington Hospital.

She was born November 29, 1927, in Philadelphia, a daughter of John Thompson and Mary Lydia Downie White.

Mrs. Beard was a 1945 graduate of Hickory High School and received her bachelor of arts degree in education from Geneva College in 1949.

Chub was a lifelong member of Hickory United Evangelical Presbyterian Church, where she belonged to the choir and served as a deacon and elder.

For more than 35 years, Mrs. Beard was employed by Fort Cherry School District as an elementary teacher for grades one through three, first at Hickory Elementary and then at Fort Cherry Elementary Center.

She served as an officer for Hickory Alumni Association and Fort Cherry Teachers Association and volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program in McDonald.

Mrs. Beard was known for her homemade cinnamon rolls, which were coveted Christmas gifts by her family and friends.

On June 15, 1951, she married the love of her life, G. William “Bill” Beard, who died December 29, 1968.

Surviving are a daughter, Marty Snodgrass and husband Richard of Pittsburgh; a sister, Ruth White of Washington, formerly Hickory; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and her Hickory church family.

Deceased are a son, William Bruce Beard; a daughter, Lois Ruth Beard; and a sister, Mary Vale Torrence.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home Ltd., Robert K. McIlvaine, owner/supervisor, 27 Cherry Avenue, Houston, PA 15342. An additional visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., the time of service, Wednesday, December 5, in Hickory United Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 Main Street, Hickory, PA 15340, with Lay Pastor Louis Templeton officiating. Interment will be held privately in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Hickory.

Condolences may be left by viewing the obituary at www.mcilvaine-speakman.com.