Obituary of Wesley A Beal

MG (Retired) Wesley A. Beal Wesley A. Beal, age 74, of Belvidere, NJ, passed away on November 5, 2016 in the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, NJ. General Beal was born in Framingham, Massachusetts to Geraldine Fleming Beal and Robert Washburn Beal, Jr. on January 3, 1942. He attended Clarkson College on an ROTC scholarship, graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. He also earned an MBA from Monmouth University. He attended the US Army Command and General Staff School and the US Army War College. His other military education included Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing Aviator Courses, Air Traffic Control Officer Course, Aviation Command and Staff Officer Course, and Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. During his military career, General Beal served in a variety of US Army active and reserve components, in command and staff assignments. In the active component, he was a Signal Officer in Korea in 1963, after which he served a combat tour as an aviator in Vietnam. He then commanded aviation unit Troop D, 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment in Germany. He commanded the 338th Transportation Company (Aviation Maintenance) in Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1971, during his second tour in Vietnam, he commanded Company B, 307th Air Traffic Control Battalion. As a reserve officer, he was commander of the 157th Support Battalion, 157th Infantry Brigade, in Edgemont, PA, and of the 31st Combat Aviation Group in Fort Meade, MD. He was Deputy Commanding General, 79th Army Reserve Command in Willow Grove, PA. He was Commanding General of the USAR 78th Division (Training Support) in Camp Kilmer, NJ. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, 16 Air Medals, Master Army Aviator Badge, and Army Master Fitness Trainer Badge. He also worked as a civilian for the US Department of Agriculture in Robbinsville NJ, and the US Department of the Army at Picatinny Arsenal NJ for many years. He is survived by his wife, Linda and daughter Francesca, both in Belvidere, and son Andrew, who lives in Bethlehem PA; his mother,; his step-mother Phyllis, his brother Dana and sister-in-law Hope, brother Brad and sister-in-law Ellen, brother Steve and sister-in-law Kathy, and sister-in-law Susan, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, and by his brother, Larry. His family would like to express their gratitude to the nurses, aides, physicians, therapists, volunteers at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and at Home for Hospice, who gave more kindness, support, compassion, understanding, and professional expertise than anyone could ever have expected. Memorial donations may be made to Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton NJ 07860; and to Mighty Warriors. His cremains will be interred at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 11:30 AM Friday, December 16, 2016. MacFadden Funeral Home, Belvidere, NJ is handling the funeral arrangements.