Luther Linwood Beard

Luther Linwood Beard, 81, of Monroe, beloved husband of the late Mary Edith (Riccitelli) Beard, died February 9 at Waterbury Hospital surrounded by his loving family and friends.

He will be missed by his devoted children, William C. Beard and his wife, Marianna, of Newtown, and Thomas P. Beard of Monroe, Barbara A. Beard of Shelton, Cathy L. Smith of Waterbury, Inez Andres of Kenya, Africa, and Yvonne Leifrig and her husband, Al, of St James, N.Y.; beloved brothers, William Beard, and Thomas Beard and his wife, Thelma; sisters, Thelma Lujan and Minnie Abbot, all of Mississippi; eight grandchildren, William C. Beard, Jr, and Melissa F. Beard, Joshua L. Smith, Cheyanne I. Smith and their father, Lon Smith, Frank Dame, Kim, Michelle, and Lori; as well as leaving four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a close friend, Florence “Betty” Riberio. Mr Beard was predeceased by his brothers, Jacob Calvin Beard and Jack Beard, and by his twin sister, Lillian Beard.

Mr Beard was born on November 9, 1923, in Union Church, Miss., a son of the late Thomas and Inez (Khalr) Beard. He was a resident of Monroe for 40 years and he retired from the Bullard Company where he worked as a machinist for almost 40 years. Mr Beard was a member of the Bullard Retirees Club. An avid horseman, he was also well-known for his great “southern” sense of humor and for his colorful story telling.

Funeral service was held on February 12 in the Spadaccino Community Funeral Home, Monroe.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, 555 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven CT 06511.

The Newtown Bee        February 18, 2005