Better A Good Name

Ecclesiastes 7:1

Better a good name than costly oil.

New Century Version

A good reputation is more valuable than the most expensive perfume.

New Living Translation

Good reputation is better than a fat bank account.

The Message

I was going to tell you about all the names my father acquired in his 96 years of life.

William Harry Beatty
was the given name of the 5th child of 10 children born to Ruth and Dwight Beatty in Massillon, Ohio on November 15, 1918.

Father and Son
Dwight Lowe Beatty, Sr. and William Harry Beatty

Bill
was the name by which he was called as a

• son
• brother to his 9 siblings (Dwight Jr, Robert, Mary, Helen, Barb, Madelyn, Carolyn, Bruce, and Alice).

top l-r: Carolyn, Barbara, Helen, Bruce, Bill, Madelyn, Mary
bottom l-r: Dwight Jr, Ruth (mother), Alice
A Family Reunion

• student
• diver on swim team
• high school cheerleader
• lifeguard
• friend
• employee/co-worker

Captain Beatty
was his title as a pilot in the Army Air Corps 1941-1945. He was a flight instructor in single- and twin-engine B26 airplanes. It's an understatement to say he loved to fly.

Captain Beatty

Bill
was husband to Kathryn  for over 20 years.

Kathryn and Bill Beatty

I was going to tell you about some of his most important names.

Dad for 71 years
to Bill Jr (1943-1981) and Doug (1945-    )


Dad with Doug and Bill in Ohio (1946)

Brothers Bill and Doug (~1953?)

Coach Beatty
to teams of Little League Baseball players.

Doug (and Bill) had the best coach--their Dad.

Daddy
When I was born in November, 1949 he got a new name--Daddy.

1950

1973

Since our birthdays were a day apart, we often shared a cake, sang to each other, and blew out the candles together.

A shared birthday celebration with Aunt Barbara

November 15, 2014   Dad's Last Best Day
Singing Happy Birthday #96
l-r: Rhonda, Alma (with Lydia), Sandi, Charla

BTW--My father would fall asleep in church each Sunday, much to my mother's chagrin. His doctor's prescription? Get a new preacher. But years later we would find that his tendency to nod off--even behind the wheel--was not boredom or rudeness. He had a neurological disorder called narcolepsy. In addition to disrupted day- and night-time sleep patterns, Dad also experienced cataplectic seizures when he laughed or felt strong emotion. What a cruel disorder--that trains one to be careful when laughing or expressing love.

Dad or Bill


Offshore with son-in-law Steve

Daughter-in-law Carolyn and son-in law Steve came to know their father-in-law as Bill. Daughter-in-law Iris always called him Dad.

Carolyn, me, and Iris (the 'daughters')
with my Mom at the stove

I was going to tell you that--whatever his label-- most everyone said his name with a smile and warm regard. He was known for his integrity, gentle strength, quick mind, and quiet dry humor. His kind blue eyes were quick to tears.



Bill
Over 41 years ago, Bill joined the Cornerstone Class at Willow Meadows Baptist Church where he met and married Alma.

Alma and Bill Beatty



Bill became father to Sandi, Rhonda, and Charla.

Sandi, Charla, and Rhonda (2014)

As a loyal volunteer bookkeeper at Braes Interfaith Ministries for over 20 years, Bill used his retirement in selfless service.

Bill-the honoree at a BIM celebration
with Alma (holding his award)
and BIM Director

He was also a master at word puzzles. His clipboard held a special mechanical pencil and the daily crossword. Amazingly, when he began to need a little extra help with the solutions, he simply took his walker to their personal computer and looked up the LA Times website. There he found the answers he needed; and he diligently copied each 'down' and 'across' to fill in his puzzle!

Uncle Bill
was his title to legions of nieces, nephews, great- and great-great nieces and nephews.



I was going to tell you about some of his more creative names.
PawPaw Bill/Pawpaw/Pawp
As a grandfather for over 40 years, he shared lots of MALARKY (PawPaw Bill's magic word for silliness) and chocolate ice cream with:

• grands: Marisa, Douglas, Steve Jr., Will, Kate, James, Juli, Ryan, Rustin, Courtney, and Brad
• (and their spouses Chris, Cecilia, Katie, Amanda, and Brandon)
• greats: Savannah, Ashley, Chelsea, Meghan, Zoe, Mia, Daniel, Willy, Da'Kearionn
• (and Chelsea's husband Brad)
• great-greats: Preston, Daniel, Jade

Christmas circa 1984

PawPaw Bill circa 1983

 Christmas 2009   Plenty of malarky to go around here!

Mr. B
For 4 years starting in 2010, caregivers (who stumbled to pronounce "Beatty") gave him the title Mr. B. They grew to care deeply for a gentleman who accepted his new role as care receiver with grace, dignity, and gratitude.

"How are you, Mr. B?"
"Oh, I'm just fine!"

The staff at Brookdale Galleria declared Mr. B "the sweetest man on their floor," showering him with good-bye hugs and well-wishes when he left the facility.

The Sweetest Man
November 15, 2014

Puppy Ball
was the name one of his great-greats gave to the great-great grandfather who whistled, played peek-a-boo, and shared his walker to be a race car.

Puppy Ball shares his wheels with Daniel (2012)

His good name was better than a fat bank account (as says The Message).







I was going to tell you all that, but what I decided was most important to tell you about my Daddy is this. There was a time in his 96 years of living here on the earth when he made a conscious choice to believe that God is indeed Who He says He is, to trust God's son Jesus to be his boss, and to lean on the Holy Spirit to be his teacher/guide for.ev.er.

And so, here's what I know to be true of the man whose name and life honored God.  As of early Friday morning, November 21, 2014, William Harry Beatty:

1.  is in heaven, his new and forever home!
2. is face to face with Jesus;
3. is in God's presence;
4. is dancing in his new strong body. He is free of his hospital bed, his walker, his fragile skin, his crooked body.
5. is reunited with his mother; smiling with his sisters and brothers; and embracing his son.

Oh, BTW--He doesn't have to worry about laughing anymore. In fact, I believe that he and his Friend Jesus have had at least one throw-your-head-back belly laugh--shout of freedom and victory over sin, disease and death.

Alma and Bill at a (practice reunion!) with brother Bruce
and sisters Alice and Carolyn     2006