Obituary of John Herbert Beach

John Herbert Beach passed peacefully to meet his Lord and Savior on July 12, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. He was born in Blissfield, Michigan on August 17, 1930, to Esther Spiegel Beach and Derwood Greenfield Beach. John was the youngest son of four boys.
He grew up in Sylvania, Ohio and attended Burnham High School where he played basketball, baseball and football and was the star quarterback for the Burnham Wildcats football team. He was offered a football scholarship to Adrian College but enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served two years. After returning home to Sylvania, he married his high school sweetheart Clara Belle Comstock in 1950. They were married and devoted to each other for 73 years; truly they were a great match! John had a quiet, humble spirit and Clara was full of fun and vigor. They were a wonderful witness through good and hard times and were a loving couple dedicated to each other, their children and their extended family.
John started his career in grain exports in Toledo, Ohio with Cargill Industries. In 1952, he was transferred to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and he continued to work there until he relocated to New Orleans to work at the Port of New Orleans. He and Clara also lived for a brief time in Portland, Oregon where he worked for Cook Industries. After Cook Industries sold, he relocated back to Baton Rouge and joined Con Agra Grain company.
He was well respected professionally and known for his kindness, fairness, hard work ethic and integrity. He was active in the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), which connects and serves the global grain industry. He served as the nationwide GEAPS President in 1979-1980 and then served as GEAPS Gulf South Chapter President from 1981-1982.
A defining event, which speaks to John’s deep character, personal convictions and compassion for others, occurred at the grain elevator. One of his long shoreman accidentally fell into the huge bin which was full of grain and dangerous deadly gases. Without a moment’s hesitation, John jumped into the bin, pulled the man out and saved his life. (What a heavenly reunion that must have been! ) With a servant’s heart, he sacrificed for all his children; his biggest regret was not going to college. So, he made certain all four of his children had the opportunity to go to the college of their choice.
John and Clara moved to Cumming, Georgia in 2001 to be closer to family. There they enjoyed watching several of their grandchildren grow up. While in Cumming, they joined Cumming First United Methodist Church. They made many lifelong friends in the “Sorta Fifties” Sunday School class. John served as class president for 10 years and spent many hours every week calling members to go over class concerns and prayer requests. They loved the church and their church family. Even though John and Clara left Cumming in 2020, their church family continued to reach out to them on a regular basis these past three years. Our family is so thankful for the consistent communication shared among these friends.

In March of 2020, Clara and John moved to Dallas to be with their daughter Brenda during the Pandemic. In March of 2021, they moved to The Traditions Assisted Living in Dallas. The family is indebted to the Traditions staff for the intentional and exceptional care they provided. John had a way of conveying love and acceptance to all—the staff at the Traditions and the residents all felt his loving and kind nature. He had that impact on people wherever he went.
John is predeceased by his parents; three brothers and their wives; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Clara and Manfard Comstock; sister-in-law Wayva Black (Bernard); and brother-in-law Gene Comstock. He is also predeceased by his son, Brian Comstock Beach who died from pancreatic cancer in October 2022. The family wishes we could have seen their heavenly reunion!
He is survived by his loving wife Clara; daughter, Brenda Beach White and her husband Robert; daughter -in- law Pamela Ross Beach; son, Brandon LaMont Beach and his wife Shuntel; and daughter, Brooke Beach Taylor and her husband Monty. Additionally, he is survived by his seven grandchildren: Marshall Comstock White (Amy), Melissa White Smulyan (Brandon), Courtney Beach Clark (David), Hunter Cole Beach, (fiancé Courtney), Parker Ross Beach, Montgomery Lynn Taylor and Chandler Beach Taylor. He is also survived by his great grandchildren who brought him the most joy in the last years of his life: Clara and Lyla Smulyan; Shelton, Hudson and Reagan White; and Madison and Miles Clark.
The family wishes to thank All Star Hospice for their incredible care, especially Chow and Juanna who loved and cared for them so well. We also thank the outstanding and professional staff at the Traditions including the caregivers who blessed them mightily —- they are too numerous to name but are truly God’s angels on earth. We hope each of you felt John’s gratitude for you; he and Clara and our family are eternally grateful to you for your loving and tender care.
The family will have a memorial gathering on August 27, 2023, in Georgia. If so inclined, please send memorials to:
Cumming First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 606 Cumming, Georgia 30028