Ila Joan Beebe

Ila Joan Beebe was born on May 9, 1937 to Lillian McAllister and Clarence McAllister. She died on December 18, 2022 at the age of 85 and was preceded in death by two sisters, one brother, and a daughter, Susan Diane Beebe. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Roland Beebe; and three children, Lawrence Eugene Beebe and wife, Linda; Roland Glenn Beebe and wife Margie; Linda Joanne Beebe-Smith and husband, Merrill.

She witnessed her family grow to include 7 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-greatgrandchild. In a journal entry marked January 7, 2016 she said, “we hold them every chance we get.”

Ila grew up in Cedar Creek as one of five children. In 1954, when she wasn’t quite eighteen, she crossed the Maryland border to wed Lawrence Roland Beebe. They lived at Slaughter Beach for a time before raising their family in Thompsonville. When she was in her early forties, she received her master’s degree and worked as a state social worker until her retirement. Shortly after, she and her husband sold their house in Thompsonville, bought an RV, and travelled the country for ten years.

The pair settled for the last time in a Magnolia retirement community, where Ila was active in just about every club and organization she could find. She loved tending to her flower vegetable gardens, reading, and walking. She had a lifelong passion for learning and took writing classes and piano lessons in her seventies.

In 2020, Ila’s memory began to decline and in 2021, she and her husband of 68 years were moved to a memory care community in Maryland. She spent her last days well cared for and died peacefully with her husband by her side, knowing she was loved.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 2 pm in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 NW Front St., Milford, DE 19963 where friends may call after 1 pm. Burial services will be private.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Ila’s memory can be made to: American Cancer Society, PO Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.