Edward "Ed" L. Beeles

Edward Lloyd Beeles 10/31/1931 - 3/2/2023

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Edward “Ed” L. Beeles, 91, who died Thursday, March 2, 2023 at home surrounded by loved ones.

Born on Halloween in 1931 on the family homestead in Bear Hollow, Great Valley, NY, he was one of four sons of the late Carl K. Beeles and Isabel (Senear) Beeles. Formerly of Windfall Rd., Kill Buck, NY, Ed spent the last 11 years living with his son and daughter-in-law in La Fargeville, NY.

Ed attended a one-room schoolhouse in Bear Hollow and went on to graduate from Ellicottville High School in 1950. After graduating, Ed worked for C.B. Norton Sawmill in Great Valley, NY, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 15, 1952 and served two years. While stationed in Hanau, Germany, Ed was a shooting instructor at the NCO Academy. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the Sharpshooter Medal.

While in Germany, Ed proposed to Ruth Anne Meek of Salamanca, NY, sending her a photo of himself kneeling and holding a ring, with the caption “just for you”. Four months later they married on August 21, 1954 at St. Mary’s Church in Little Valley, NY and spent 54 years together until Ruth Anne’s passing in 2008.

Ed was an easygoing, loving family man and gifted craftsman. He built several homes and pieces of furniture for his family, and loved to tinker with cars and motorcycles. He worked briefly as a building inspector and as a lumber foreman and head sawyer at Donver Inc. for many years until his retirement. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and American Legion in Salamanca. Ed enjoyed bowling, square dances, fireman parades, and camping, as well as spending time with family and his many pets.

Ed and Ruth Anne raised four wonderful children: Anne Zimbardi, Salamanca, NY, Lynne (Mark) App, Olean, NY, Eric (Nathalie McDonald) Beeles, Argyle, NY Scott (Sally) Beeles, La Fargeville, NY; eight grandchildren, Ryan, Lucas, and Jordan Zimbardi, Justin App, Kyleigh and Joshua Beeles, Lauren and Katie Beeles; a brother Floyd Beeles, Great Valley, NY; sister-in-law Anna Beeles, Jacksonville, AR; several great-grandchildren.

Ed is predeceased by his wife Ruth Anne (Meek) Beeles, his parents Carl and Isabel (Senear) Beeles, two brothers Alfred Beeles, Calvin Beeles, and granddaughter-in-law Cindy (Baker) Zimbardi.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, New York on Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 11am – 1pm at which time funeral services will be held..

Full military honors will be conducted by members of the American Legion Hughes-Skiba Post 535 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars John F. Ahrens Post 5296.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Salamanca, New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham Street, Watertown, NY 13601

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.