Richard Wilson Beard

Richard Wilson "Dickie" Beard, 79, of Roanoke, formerly of Buchanan, passed away Saturday, September 22, 2012.Dickie was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Wilson Beard and Mary Leighton Beard; brother, Roy Gibson Beard; and sister, Mary Beard Manspile. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict, and was a military police officer in Germany. He began his law enforcement career in Buchanan serving as the Town Sergeant, then joined the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office and served as an animal control officer, road deputy, jailor, arson investigator, and retired in 1991 as an investigator. He was a honorary member of the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department, the Buchanan Rescue Squad, member and choir member of Valley View Baptist Church, and a member of the Botetourt County Chorus. Dickie is survived by his wife of 15 years, Sandy A. Beard; son, Scott Beard of Buchanan; sister, Maude Ellen (Patsy) Burch and husband, David of Maryland; step-daughter and spouse, Kim and Stuart Hall of Buchanan; grandchildren, Remington S. Beard, Austin U. Beard, Tyler Dalton Hall, Logan Cooper Hall, Shiloh Allen Hall; mother-in-law, Kathryn Atkinson; numerous nieces and nephews; special family members, Michelle Moseley, Danny and David Sanderson, and Teresa Turpin; and his dog, Trooper. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 25, 2012 in the Buchanan Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home with Rev. Daniel Boone and Rev. Richard Richardson officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery~Buchanan with Military Honors by the US Army and the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office Color Guard. The family will receive friends Monday, September 24 from 6 to 9 pm at Botetourt Funeral Home, 14920 Lee Highway. Those wishing to make a contribution, please consider the Good Samaritan Hospice, 2408 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018.