Beaverton Historical Society
Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
 
Thomas Beale

   The honorable Judge Thomas A. Beale, 73, of Midland died Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at MidMichigan Stratford Village.

   The son of the late Albert D and Mildred M. (La Vigne) Beale was born in Saginaw on Nov. 25, 1933, moving to Midland at the age of two with is parents in 1935.

   He graduated from Midland High School in 952, attended Michigan State University for two years then enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon returning from Korea, Tom continued his studies at MSU, graduating in 1958 with a degree in business administration He then went to the University of Detroit Law School at the age of 35 and graduated in 1971.

   Judge Beale became a district court judge in Midland County in 1982 and then a circuit court judge in 1988, until his retirement in 1994.

   Tom was civic-minded, involved in numerous local activities, including serving on the board of directors for American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland, Midland Community Center and Midland Volunteers in Probation.

   He served as vice chairman of the City of Midland Zoning Board of Appeals, the local Crisis Intervention and Drug Information Center, the City of Midland Charter Review Commission, and served on the Parish Council at St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church, where he attended.

   Tom was a member of the Civitan Club, a Boy Scout scoutmaster and member of the Fraternal Order of Elks Lodge #1610, and Rotary. He was an avid softball player Tom was a pitcher for McArdle fast pitch softball team until 1975 and then became an announcer for the McArdle and Midland Explores fast pitch softball teams Tom was inducted into the Midland County Sports Hall of Fame and State of Michigan Softball Hall of Fame.

   He was an adventurous individual and really enjoyed riding his Gold Wing Motor Cycle around town and the many trips with his wife, Elsa, around the country and world.

   We will all remember him riding into the sunset, ponytail flying, radio blaring and grinning from ear to ear. Now he is forever free to ride, to dream, to experience, to be himself … in a different way.

   Surviving are his wife, Elsa, whom he married on Nov. 25, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada; sons, Michael (Liz) Beale of Midland, Thomas J. (T.J.) Beale of Chicago, Illinois; daughter, Thea (Russell) Skinner of Gladwin; grandchildren, Matthew Beale, Sage and Reese Skinner; step son, Steve (April) Medema of Gladwin; step daughter, Stacey (Douglas) Hill of Midland; step grandchildren, Lyndsay, Madison and Baleigh Hill, and Javan and Hannah Medema.

   The funeral liturgy was celebrated Monday, March 12, 2007 from St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church with the Reverend Father James Wm. Bessert as celebrant with cremation following and inurnment of the ashes at a later date. Military Honors were provided by the United States Army Funeral Honors and the Midland Area Veterans. Memorials may be offered to St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church or Pardee Cancer Treatment Fund. Personal messages of support for the family may be offered at www.wilsonmiller com.

 
 
Personal Information
Death Date
Burial/Final Location
Service
03/07/2007
Unknown
Korea
 
Publication Information
Pub. Date
Publication
Pub. Page
03/14/2007
Gladwin County Record, Gladwin, MI
P:A2 C:?
 
Transcription Information
Date
Transcribed by
Source Media
September 2009
Bob Frei
Microfilm
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Posted by Bob Frei with the assistance of Jeff Naugle