John William Beck

John William ""Bill"" Beck, Jr., 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. and Pine Bluff, Ark. died Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock.

Mr. Beck was born Nov. 8, 1936 in Poplar Bluff. He was of the Protestant faith, and had retired as an engineer from Cottonbelt Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Beck was a member of Masonic Lodge 672 in Cape Girardeau and was a lifetime member of the VFW in Poplar Bluff. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Beck was an avid genealogist and historian, and was known for writing and telling stories.

On April 20, 1983 he married Melville Ann Long. She survives.

Other survivors include four children, John Beck of Star City, Ark., Ben Beck, Arlette Billings and Lisa Scott all of Woodlawn, Ark.; 9 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; and 3 sisters, Betty Stricklin of Troy, Ill., Elaine Morgan of Bemis, Tenn. and Darlene Nies of St. Charles, Mo.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Chapel with Rev. Victor Hodge officiating. Burial will be in Little Brushy Cemetery at Wappapello.

Family and friends may share an online condolence or memory at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com.