CHARLESTON – Ralph K. Frederick Beal, 101, formerly of Kingston, Mass., and husband of the late Phyllis (Hammond) Beal, passed away Dec. 16, 2009. He was a graduate of Whitman High School, Class of 1928. He received his machinist apprenticeship at Pearson Machine Shop, Whitman, Mass. Ralph graduated from Eastern State Teachers College, Castine, in 1933. He was a purchasing agent for Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Co., Whitman, Mass., and when World War II broke out, he went to M.I.T. Radiation Laboratory as an instrument maker to help with the war effort. After the war he worked for Hastings Laboratory, Bass River, for three years, he then went into business with his father as a carpenter and builder. Ralph built his brother-in-law, Henry A. Baker’s home in Danbury, Conn., and an art studio in Glendale, Calif., for his other brother-in-law, Herb V. Cook. He owned an anodizing plant in Hollywood, Calif., for seven years and then sold out and returned back East to resume his carpentry and building in this area. Ralph retired in 1974 and traveled all over North America by car including Alaska. Since then he took shorter trips from Maine to Florida. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman. Donations can be made in Ralph’s name to a charity of one’s choice. For online condolences, please go to www.shepherdfuneralhome.com.
RALPH K. FREDERICK BEAL
