PASTOR ALLEN JACK BECK, age 83 years, of Dallastown, Pennsylvania died on Tuesday, July 3, 2007, after a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Jean (Evans) Beck. They shared thirty-seven years of marriage. He was also the husband of Evelyne Rebecca (Isom) Beck who passed away in 1968.

Born on August 14, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan, Pastor Beck was the son of the late Leroy Russell and the late Bertha Mae (Hammann) Beck. He first attended school in a one-room schoolhouse with eight grades and one teacher. His family moved several times during his childhood before settling in Cumberland, MD. He graduated from Fort Hill High School in 1941. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force and attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly thereafter, he married the former Evelyne Isom and they moved several times during his military service. In 1944, he was assigned duty in the European Theater of WWII, serving in Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Brussels and Germany.

Upon his honorable discharge from military service, the couple settled in Cumberland, Maryland He was involved in the formation of the Bedford Road Baptist Church and worked for the Queen City Dairy and the Lincoln Insurance Company. He conducted the state Brotherhood retreat followed by the acceptance to the position of Brotherhood Secretary-Treasurer of the Baptist Convention of Maryland. Moving to Baltimore in 1956, he became involved in the administration of Camp-Wo-Me-To near Rocks State Park in Harford County. In early 1960, he began his preaching career at a large revival at the Goodwill Baptist Church near Pocomoke City, Maryland.

In 1961, he was ordained as a pastor at the Belvedere Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD. He accepted the pastorate to the Bedford Road Baptist Church in Cumberland, Maryland later that same year. In 1968, his loving and devoted wife, Evelyne passed away. The couple was blessed with nine children, seven daughters and two sons. In 1969, he was instrumental in the forming of Summit Lake Camp in Emmittsburg, Maryland and served as Assistant Camp Director.

In 1969, Pastor Beck married the former Jean Evans and during their marriage, three children were born, one son and twin daughters. Later that year, he accepted the pastorate to the North Harford Baptist Church and the family moved to Jarrettsville, Maryland in 1970. He served on the board for a shelter for homeless men in Baltimore City known as the Baltimore Rescue Mission. He had a weekly radio program for some time and began making missionary trips to Haiti to build churches and orphanages.

In 1989, he retired from fulltime pastoral work at North Harford Baptist Church and moved to Dallastown, PA. He continued with trips to Haiti as well as teaching at the Baltimore School of the Bible in Baltimore City from 1990-1993. He was a member, elder and Sunday school teacher at North Hills Bible Church until his illness.

In the true character of a fine gentleman, Pastor Beck had a deep passion for sharing his love of the Lord, felt blessed with a large and loving family and was always a constant source of encouragement and strength.

In addition to his loving and devoted wife, Jean, he is survived by his children Suzanne B. Getz of Meadville, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth B. Mentzer of Belcamp, Maryland, Christine B. McAllister of Powhatan, Virginia, Miriam B. Dimitriadis of Bel Air, Maryland, J. Nathan Beck of White Hall, Maryland, A. Joseph Beck of Catonsville, Maryland, Ruth A. Edwards of Delta, Pennsylvania, Sara L. Schroers of Hampstead, Maryland, Bryan E. Beck of White Hall, Maryland, Charis J. Cooney of Bel Air, Maryland, Carol A. Cooney of Oakton, Virginia, and his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. He is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by daughter, Kathryn DeAra and his sister, V. Ruth Morrissey.

Services will be held on Sunday, July 8, 2007, at North Harford Baptist Church, 4008 Old Federal Hill Road, Jarrettsville, Maryland. Friends will be received from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. with the funeral service beginning at 6:00 p.m.

His successor pastor at North Harford Baptist Church, Reverend John W. Manry will officiate.

Graveside services with interment will be held on Monday, July 9th at 2:00 pm at Sunset Memorial Park, 13800 Bedford Road NE, Cumberland, Maryland with Reverend Ken Korns officiating.

Pallbearers will be Tyler Cooney, Scott Cooney, Jr., John Mark Edwards, Sam Edwards, Ernie Beck and Christopher Beck.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Getz, Ryan Beck, Gavin Cooney, Ian Cooney, Jake Edwards, Ethan Beck and Max Getz.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Baltimore Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 725, Baltimore, MD 21203 or to Grace Mission to Haiti, P.O. Box 211025, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421.

Obituary prepared by his family.