More detail on this person: CONWAY - Samuel
"Sam" Gallatin Beal, 90, of Conway died from
complications of infection Friday, July 26, 2013,
with his treasured daughters and extended family
by his side.
Sam was born March 25, 1923, in Little Rock,
where he graduated from Little Rock High School,
now Little Rock Central High School, in 1941.
After two memorable trips to California, one with
his cousin and lifelong best friend, Ros Smith, he
underwent naval flight training in 1943 and was
designated an aviator in the Marine Air Corps
later that same year. On Nov. 27, 1943, Sam
married Billie Corinne Shryock, his beloved wife
of almost 58 years. He served 30 years in the
military, including serving in World War II, the
Korean War and the Vietnam War. During his
career, he earned the rank of colonel and received
distinctions such as the Legion of Merit Medal for
Valor, the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal with
Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal,
the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal,
and two Purple Heart medals. He served as an
observer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After
retiring, he attended classes at the University of
Central Arkansas and completed a bachelor's
degree in accounting, having had his initial
enrollment suspended while serving his country.
The fourth of nine siblings, Samuel Gallatin was
affectionately known among his siblings as
"Gaggy." Loved ones remember his friendship,
hospitality, quick wit, and love of life and
laughter. He was an active member of the Lost
Chord Club of Central Arkansas, First Baptist
Church in Conway, Centennial Country Club and the
Conway Country Club. A golf enthusiast and natural
athlete, he regularly attended rounds of golf with
friends and continued his military "PT" throughout
his twilight years with daily runs through his
neighborhood, workouts at the Conway Regional
Health and Fitness Center, and extended solo hikes
in the Arkansas Ozarks well into his 80s. Sam had
a love for his community. His grandchildren
delighted in his impromptu tours of "Beautiful
Downtown Conway," which always included a stop
at the historic home of "Camama" and "Daddy
Smith," Samuel Gallatin Beal and Ellen Grisard
Smith, his grandparents. Family and friends fondly
recall Sam's love of family holidays, especially
"Granddad's Christmas Party," an annual tradition
spanning more than three decades. He often
regaled loved ones with renditions of "Ramblin'
Rose," and "I Did It My Way," "Everybody Loves
Somebody" and other Rat Pack favorites.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robert
Knott Beal; his mother, Leila Ellen Smith Beal;
wife, Billie Shryock Beal; sisters, Leila Beal
Bevensee, Medora Beal Grissom, Lenora Beal
Lefever and Elizabeth Beal Mayhew; and son
James Gallatin Beal. He is survived by brothers
Joseph Turner Beal of Kettering, Ohio, Robert
Knott Beal Jr. of Little Rock, and James Harrison
Beal of San Marcos, Calif.; sister, Catherine Ruth
Beal Erickson of Des Moines, Iowa; cousin, Samuel
Theodore "Ros" Smith Jr. of Conway; daughters,
Karen Elaine Beal Gardner and Anne Elizabeth
Beal Lasowski; grandchildren, Natalie Ghidotti,
Becca Green, Matthew Gardner, Jessie Beal,
Brandon Lasowski, Jonathan Gardner, Ashley
Wilson and Jennifer Lasowski; great-grandchildren,
Nathan Ghidotti, Corinne Ghidotti, Noah Lasowski
and Landon Lasowski; and cherished friend Kay
Mayes.
A visitation will be held at the Roller McNutt
Funeral Home, 801 8th Ave., Conway, Ark., 72032,
Tuesday, July 30, 6-8 p.m. A celebration of Sam's
life, officiated by Dr. Dale Wicker, will be held
Wednesday, July 31, 1 p.m., also at the Roller
McNutt Funeral Home. He will be interred alongside
wife Billie, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little
Rock. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
the Conway Regional Health Foundation, 2302
College Ave., Conway, Ark. 72034 and The First
Baptist Church of Conway, 1719 Robinson Ave.,
Conway, Ark. 72034.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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