Bill, as he was always known, was born the youngest of six children of William Henry Beck and Mary Bossert in Rochester, New York, where he resided his entire life. In his late teens he became employed by Eastman Kodak Company, where he worked as a machinist in their Apparatus Division (first at Camera Works and then at Elmgrove Plant) for 33 years until his death. He married Elaine Backus on October 7, 1939, and together they raised three children, Helen, Thomas and Robert. He was an avid hunter (both bow and rifle) and an active man. He was also an active member of the Genesee Conservation League.
In the spring of 1975, he was involved in an automobile accident and sustained serious injuries, which left him in a coma for a number of days. When he emerged from the coma, it was obvious that he had suffered serious and irreversible brain damage. He died of a self-administered gunshot wound on November 18, 1975, at the age of 58. Although he left no note, his family knew his action was meant to spare them the pain of his continuing decline.
Parents:
William Henry Beck (1873-
Mary Bossert (1875-1953)
Siblings:
Walter William Beck (1899-1997)
Marguerite D. Beck Distefano (1902-1981)
Agnes M. Beck (1904- )
Clara J. Beck (1907- )
Caroline M. Beck (1910- )
Spouse:
(Harriett) Elaine Backus (1918-2006)
Children:
Helen Jean Beck Ratcliffe (1941- )
Thomas Edward Beck (1944- )
Robert Francis Beck (1946-2022)
In the spring of 1975, he was involved in an automobile accident and sustained serious injuries, which left him in a coma for a number of days. When he emerged from the coma, it was obvious that he had suffered serious and irreversible brain damage. He died of a self-administered gunshot wound on November 18, 1975, at the age of 58. Although he left no note, his family knew his action was meant to spare them the pain of his continuing decline.
Parents:
William Henry Beck (1873-
Mary Bossert (1875-1953)
Siblings:
Walter William Beck (1899-1997)
Marguerite D. Beck Distefano (1902-1981)
Agnes M. Beck (1904- )
Clara J. Beck (1907- )
Caroline M. Beck (1910- )
Spouse:
(Harriett) Elaine Backus (1918-2006)
Children:
Helen Jean Beck Ratcliffe (1941- )
Thomas Edward Beck (1944- )
Robert Francis Beck (1946-2022)
Bill, as he was always known, was born the youngest of six children of William Henry Beck and Mary Bossert in Rochester, New York, where he resided his entire life. In his late teens he became employed by Eastman Kodak Company, where he worked as a machinist in their Apparatus Division (first at Camera Works and then at Elmgrove Plant) for 33 years until his death. He married Elaine Backus on October 7, 1939, and together they raised three children, Helen, Thomas and Robert. He was an avid hunter (both bow and rifle) and an active man. He was also an active member of the Genesee Conservation League.
In the spring of 1975, he was involved in an automobile accident and sustained serious injuries, which left him in a coma for a number of days. When he emerged from the coma, it was obvious that he had suffered serious and irreversible brain damage. He died of a self-administered gunshot wound on November 18, 1975, at the age of 58. Although he left no note, his family knew his action was meant to spare them the pain of his continuing decline.
Parents:
William Henry Beck (1873-
Mary Bossert (1875-1953)
Siblings:
Walter William Beck (1899-1997)
Marguerite D. Beck Distefano (1902-1981)
Agnes M. Beck (1904- )
Clara J. Beck (1907- )
Caroline M. Beck (1910- )
Spouse:
(Harriett) Elaine Backus (1918-2006)
Children:
Helen Jean Beck Ratcliffe (1941- )
Thomas Edward Beck (1944- )
Robert Francis Beck (1946-2022)
In the spring of 1975, he was involved in an automobile accident and sustained serious injuries, which left him in a coma for a number of days. When he emerged from the coma, it was obvious that he had suffered serious and irreversible brain damage. He died of a self-administered gunshot wound on November 18, 1975, at the age of 58. Although he left no note, his family knew his action was meant to spare them the pain of his continuing decline.
Parents:
William Henry Beck (1873-
Mary Bossert (1875-1953)
Siblings:
Walter William Beck (1899-1997)
Marguerite D. Beck Distefano (1902-1981)
Agnes M. Beck (1904- )
Clara J. Beck (1907- )
Caroline M. Beck (1910- )
Spouse:
(Harriett) Elaine Backus (1918-2006)
Children:
Helen Jean Beck Ratcliffe (1941- )
Thomas Edward Beck (1944- )
Robert Francis Beck (1946-2022)
Family Members
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