George Richard Van Dyke Sr.
(1889-1937)
Tommie Estelle Beacham
(1896-1968)
Hagan Andrew Grisham
(1898-1984)
Annie Pearl Fendley
(1906-1984)
Col. Henry Clay Van Dyke Sr.
(1925-2010)
Nancy Earlene Grisham
(1926-2019)
Pamela Gwen Van Dyke
(1953-2022)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Gary Robert Beacher

Pamela Gwen Van Dyke 1 3 4 5 6

  • Born: 11 Oct 1953, Greenville, Greenville, SC 3 4 6
  • Marriage (1): Gary Robert Beacher on 30 Jun 1972 in Eglin Air Force Base, Okaloosa, FL 1 2
  • Died: 4 Nov 2022, Jackson, Hinds, MS, USA at age 69 2 6

   FamilySearch ID: LF2L-GJV.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Newspaper: Greenville News: ALABAMA VISITOR - Lt. and Mrs. Henry C. Van Dyke have as their guest Lt. Van Dyke's mother, who came from Birmingham, Ala. to visit her new twin granddaughters, Monica Jean and Pamela Gwen, born Sunday, Oct. 11., 21 Oct 1953, Greenville, Greenville, SC. 7

2. Newspaper: Birmingham News: Mrs. George R. Van Dyke has flown to Frankfort, Germany. to visit Capt. George R. Van Dyke Jr. and family. She was accompanied by Mrs. H. W. Jungemann of Pascagoula. They will also visit Capt. Henry C. Van Dyke and family in Paris, France, 11 Jul 1955, Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. 8

3. Residence: on 20 Oct 1968 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford, TN, USA. 9

4. Residence: 171 Grandview Ave., Valparaiso, FL on 18 Jul 1970 in Valparaiso, Okaloosa, FL, USA. 10

5. Newspaper: Playground Daily News: Pamela Van Dyke (photo) Niceville HS Beauty Queen, 9 Nov 1970, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa, FL, USA. 11 REIGNING BEAUTY - Miss Pamela Van Dyke, a talented, blond beauty with a winning smile has been selected to reign as Miss Niceville Senior High School for the remainder of 1970 and during 1971. She is the daughter of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Henry C. Van Dyke, 171 Grandivew Ave., Valparaiso.

6. Residence: in 1972 in Laporte, Larimer, CO, USA. 1

7. Newspaper: Playground Daily News: Van Dyke-Beacher Wed in Eglin Ceremony, 9 Jul 1972, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa, FL, USA. 1 The marriage of Miss Pamela Gwen Van Dyke, daughter of Col. and Mrs. Henry Clay Van Dyke, and Gary Robert Beacher, son of Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Beacher, took place at Eglin AFB Chapel Number One June 30.
The bride's parents are presently stationed at Edwards AFB, Calif. The groom's parents, recently of Deerfield, Ill., are presently employed with the International Research Institute in Tucupita, Venezuela.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a formal white gown of delustered satin and pleated sata-peau with re-embroidered lace and tiny pearls, high fitted neckline and pleated bishop sleeves. The A-line silhouette was completed with a chapel length mantilla bordered in re-embroidered lace.
The bridal bouquet was a nosegay of white feathered carnations with deep lavender orchid in the center and tied with white satin streamers.
The maid of honor, Miss Dood Amos, and matron of honor, Mrs. Michael Hall, wore matching floor length floral printed dresses with veiled headpieces.
They carried nosegays of lavender, green, and yellow feathered carnations accented with purple statice and tied with green and yellow streamers.
Lloyd Blue served as best man and ushers were Jeff Moore and Michael Hall.
The bride's mother chose a floor-length lavender silk organza gown with tucked and ruffled bodice and sleeves. The mother of the groom wore an ankle length gown of lime satin with . white Indian hand- embroidered lace yoke and cuffs. Both mothers wore corsages of white feathered carnations.
The couple were united in an Episcopal marriage ceremony with Chaplain James Jordan officiating. Traditional wedding music was provided by organist Mrs. Betty Thomas.
Immediately following the ceremony a reception was held at the Eglin Officers' Club.
Out of town guests included Jeffrey B. Moore, Wellfleet, Mass.; Mr. and Mrs. James H. Paul, Houston, Texas; Neil Rawls, Orlando; Mrs. Pat Brown, Hattiesburg, Miss.; and Julie Mastromarino, Ocean Springs, Miss.
The couple will reside in La Porte, Colorado while attending Colorado State University. The bride attended the University of Southern Mississippi her freshman year and the groom attended OWJC for two years followed by his junior year at Colorado State.

8. Residence: in 1975 in Gainesville, Alachua, FL. 2

9. Residence: in 1976 in College Station, Brazos, TX. 2

10. Residence: in 1980 in Woodville, Tyler, TX, USA. 2

11. Residence: in 1984 in Shreveport, Caddo, LA, USA. 2

12. She was educated at LSU: B.S. Accounting on 21 Dec 1988 in Shreveport, Caddo, LA, USA. 12 A total of 178 students were awarded diplomas Wednesday by LSU in Sheveport at its fall commencement ceremonies at the Shreveport Civic Center....Graduating magna cum laude, with grade averages between 3.7 and 3.89 were 17 students. They are Pamela Van Dyke Beacher of Bossier City, B.S. accounting...

13. Residence: in 1989 in Eugene, Lane, OR. 2

14. Residence: in 1999 in Natchez, Adams, MS. 2

15. Residence: on 27 Aug 2010 in Natchez, Adams, MS. 5

16. Residence: in 2015 in Young Harris, Towns, GA, USA. 2

17. Obituary: Natchez Trace Funeral Home: obituary of Pamela Beacher on 4 Nov 2022 in Jackson, Hinds, MS, USA. 2 Pamela Van Dyke Beacher, loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, went to be with her LORD on November 4, 2022. She was 69.

Pamela was born on October 11, 1953 in Greenville. South Carolina, the daughter of Henry and Nancy Grisham Van Dyke and the youngest of four siblings. Pamela is survived by her devoted, loving husband, Gary Robert Beacher of Young Harris, GA and two loving children, Shannon Beacher Childs (Harry) of Brandon, MS; and Ryan Gary Beacher (Deena) of Ohio City, OH. Pamela married Gary on June 30, 1972 and they spent their 50+ years together in many different cities throughout the United States raising their family.

Pamela is also survived by her brothers Henry Van Dyke Jr. of Greenville, SC, Richard Van Dyke of Mobile, AL, and her twin sister, Monica Johnson of Norfolk, VA. There are also many nieces and nephews who will miss their aunt Pam.

Pamela's kind heart and infectious laugh brought happiness into many people's lives and fostered many lifelong relationships. Pam was a compassionate, elegant woman with a down home personality. She enjoyed baking Christmas cookies for friends and family. Her incredibly active life was cut short with the diagnosis of Young Onset Alzheimer's and Primary Progressive Aphasia. She remained active and loving until she succumbed to these diseases on November 4, 2022.

Her father was a colonel in the US Air Force and her family traveled throughout her childhood. Her twin sister was her best friend and together they navigated new schools, friends, and adventures.

Pam was "Miss Niceville High School" in her senior year where she met her husband to be, Gary Beacher, and was awarded a music scholarship at University of Southern Mississippi focusing on piano. After her freshman year at USM, she married Gary and moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado, where Gary was attending forestry school. Pam worked to assist in family and college expenses. They moved to Gainesville, FL shortly before she gave birth to her daughter, Shannon, in 1975. The next year, she and her family moved to College Station, TX. Pam worked for the Industrial Education Department, then for Texas A&M Research Foundation. She loved playing racquetball and assisted many graduate students by typing theses and dissertations. From 1980-84, she lived in Woodville, TX and started her first company focusing on word processing books for the Romance Writers of America. She gave birth to her son Ryan in 1982.

After moving to Shreveport, LA, in 1984, Pam focused on obtaining a degree in Accounting. She attended LSUS and was the president of the Accounting Club, became a member of Phi Kappa Phi and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was active in racquetball, softball, and running marathons. In 1989, she moved to Eugene, OR with her family and worked for Moss Adams CPA. Pam passed her CPA Exam in total on the first attempt. While in Eugene, Pam focused on her children, her career as an Accountant and Network Administrator.

In 1999, Pam and her family moved to Natchez, MS. She worked as a CPA, then created and was the CEO of Advantage Medical Billing in which she involved her family. She became a master gardener and loved working on her many flower and vegetable gardens. Pamela volunteered throughout her life, putting others first, and felt that her time, love, and energy were critically important to reinvest. She was engaged with the Natchez Children's Home where she mentored many wonderful children and young adults. Pam and her husband became very interested in scuba diving where she attained many certifications and earned her master scuba diver rating. Pam and Gary celebrated their Golden Anniversary on 06/30/2022.

Services will be private. Condolences may be expressed to the family at 3018 Daves Circle, Brandon, MS 39042.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org or participation at a future Alzheimer's walk or event.

18. Residence: on 4 Nov 2022 in Brandon, Rankin, MS, USA. 2


Pamela married Gary Robert Beacher, son of Robert Lincoln Beacher and Dorothy Darlene Smith, on 30 Jun 1972 in Eglin Air Force Base, Okaloosa, FL.1 2 (Gary Robert Beacher was born on 10 Apr 1951 in Fayetteville, Washington, AR 4 13 14.)


Sources


1 Playground Daily News (Ft. Walton, FL), 9 Jul 1972, page 15. Wedding of Pamela Gwen Van Dyke and Gary Robert Beacher.

2 "Natchez Trace Funeral Home (Madison, MS)," https://natcheztracefuneralhome.com/tribute/details/812/Pamela-Beacher/obituary.html.

3 Beacher, Bruce Franklin, Beau-Chere, The Beacher Family Newsletter, Issue 1 Dec 1977.

4 Records of Ryan Gary Beacher.

5 "The Greenville News (Greenville, SC)" (www.greenvilleonline.com), 28 Aug 2010. Obituary of Henry Clay Van Dyke. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvilleonline/obituary.aspx?pid=144977073.

6 Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245591542.

7 "The Greenville News (Greenville, SC)" (www.greenvilleonline.com), 21 Oct 1953, page 11. Birth of Pamela and Monica Van Dyke.

8 Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL) (Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama.), 11 Jul 1955, page 15.

9 "Birmingham Post-Herald (Birmingham, AL)," 23 Oct 1968, page 13. Obituary of Tommie Estelle Van Dyke.

10 "The Daily News-Journal (Murfreesboro, TN)," 9 Aug 1970, page 15. Marriage Connie Belle Smith and Henry Clay Van Dyke Jr.

11 Playground Daily News (Ft. Walton, FL), 9 Nov 1970, page 2. Photo of Pamela Van Dyke.

12 "The Times (Shreveport, LA)," 23 Dec 1988, page 6.

13 Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index (Original data: Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings, Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings.), Vol. 2.

14 Northwest Arkansas Times (Fayetteville, Arkansas), 12 Apr 1951, Thursday, Page 2, Births.



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