Beam Follow-Up

Ray Beam at First Fandom Awards in 2000. (Photo by Keith Stokes.)

Curt Phillips adds these words of appreciation for the late Ray Beam:

I’ve just learned of the death of Ray Beam of Kokomo, Indiana on April 8.  Ray was a long time SF fan, a member of First Fandom, a regular at many midwestern conventions including MidWestCon and Pulpcon, and a fixture in old-time Cincinatti Fandom.  I knew him as a very pleasant fellow and enjoyed some great conversations with him about Fandom and old science fiction over the years.

The funeral home’s memorial page for Ray says in part:

Ray Edgar Beam Jr., 79, Kokomo, died at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 8, 2012 at St. Joseph Hospital emergency room.  He was born December 24, 1932 in Warren, Ohio, the son of Ray E. and Evelyn (Joseph) Beam Sr.  On September 13, 1975, he married Mary Ann Armfield.

Ray grew up in Plymouth, before moving to Indianapolis to live with his father.  He graduated from Arsenal Tech High School and attended Butler University School of Pharmacy.  He worked at Mallory Metallurgical as a Powder Metallurgist, where he earned many patents.  He was a 50 year member of the Greentown Masonic Lodge F&AM 341.  He was also a member of the Scottish Rite, Shrine Club and Grotto.

He was a life-long science fiction fan.  He won the Science Fiction Hall of Fame Award and the Sam Moskowitz Archive Award. In addition he was former Guest of Honor at several conventions. His favorite outdoor activities included cave exploring and Indy Car Racing.

Ray is survived by his first wife, Susie Rivers of Brownsburg; second wife, Mary Ann Beam of Kokomo; children, John Wesley (Debbie) Beam, Christopher Ray Beam, Wesley Daniel Beam , all of Kokomo, Catherine Turner of Franklin; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter and elder daughter, Nancy.