Arthur Alexander Beach, Jr.

Beach, Jr., Arthur Alexander , went to be with his savior Jesus on June 19, 2022. He was born on September 8, 1932 in Los Angeles, California to the late, Arthur and Mae Beach. He had 5 sisters Barbara, Norma, Theda, Jewel and Rachel; and a brother John. Arthur was known as ‘Sonny’ to the family so as not to be confused with his father. He accepted Jesus as his savior at an early age and attended church wherever his family was living at the time. Art graduated from Santa Paula High School in California and began studies at Pierce College where he also played on the football team. During this time, he worked many jobs as a carpenter and as a ranch hand in the San Fernando Valley. He also enjoyed some amateur car racing at the Van Nuys airport when the airplanes weren’t landing! During the Korean War, he was drafted into the Army and served in the military police detachment in Albuquerque, NM guarding the atomic bomb. He also played football for the base team which gave him additional opportunities during the season. After his discharge from the Army, he returned to his home and church in Los Angeles where he met a young woman recently arrived from Indiana named Opal Davis. Art and Opal were married on December 1, 1956 and Art was hired as an engineer at Rocketdyne during the infancy of the space program. He went on to work there for more than 30 years on the rocket engines for space programs from Mercury to Apollo to the Space Shuttle. During this time, Art and Opal had two sons: Doug and Dean. The family attended the Simi Valley Church of the Nazarene where Art served in many capacities including Sunday School teacher, usher, board member and choir member. He would often join Opal in singing duets for the services. When Doug and Dean were in High School, Art got the family started riding motorcycles which became a family tradition for weekend outings and camping trips. Art loved to travel and took the family camping each summer to various national parks in the Western US and Canada. Upon his retirement from Rocketdyne, Art and Opal moved to Morristown, TN. They then moved to Bluffton, SC, then to the Nashville TN area where they have lived for the past 10+ years. During their retirement years, they continued to serve in various churches singing in the choir and serving in the community. Art and Opal continued in their love for travel and went on many road trips and cruises, often bringing Doug’s and Dean’s families along to Alaska, the Caribbean, and South America. Art was always laughing and ready with a funny joke to keep things light. He was well known for his Dad and Grandpa jokes. Art Beach will be remembered as a man who was a friend to all. There were never any strangers to him. He always left smiles and laughter wherever he went.

Art is survived by Opal, his wife of 65 years. Sons, Doug and wife Patti of Ventura CA and Dean and wife Melody of Mt Juliet, TN. Grandchildren,  Amber, Jonathan, Melissa and Kristin and great grandchildren, Mason and Braelyn.

Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Bond Memorial Chapel with Pastor Tommy Dove officiating. Entombment will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.

Flowers accepted or memorials may be made to Grace Park Project at www.graceplacenashville.churchcenter.com/giving

Visitation will be one hour prior to service time Thursday at Bond Memorial Chapel, N. Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615) 773-2663. www.bondmemorial.com