John Robert Beckwith passed away January 24 from congestive heart failure at his home in Templeton, California. He was four days shy of his 88th birthday. Bob, as he was known by family and friends, was born in Nova Scotia, as were his parents, George and Frances Beckwith. The family moved to Inglewood and then to Pacific Palisades in 1924, when the community was just two years old. Bob was in the first kindergarten class of Pacific Palisades Elementary School. He would reminisce about running around, riding horses and playing with his four siblings and friends in the ‘open fields and canyons of the Palisades.’ Always an outdoorsman, Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing and horseback riding, especially playing polo at Will Rogers Park. He served in the Air Force during World War II, flying B-25 bombers. He continued to fly after the war as a recreational pilot and to commute from Pacific Palisades to his vineyard and ranch in Paso Robles. Bob started Beckwith Insurance Agency in 1951 in a small office on Sunset Boulevard. He was an active member of the local business community and service organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Post 283, the Optimist Club and the Lions Club. His son, Gary, owns Beckwith Insurance Agency, now located on Via de la Paz. Bob had an active retirement maintaining a working vineyard and ranch in Paso Robles with his wife, Alexandra. He enjoyed his many friends in the Central Coast region and participated in the growing wine industry. He continued to enjoy his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild as well as his outdoor recreations in a beautiful rural locale. Bob is survived by his sister, Marge Dolan; his wife of 35 years, Alexandra; his two sons, Gary (wife Patty) of Pacific Palisades, and Steve of Northridge; his two daughters, Kristine Bergen (husband Randy) of Livermore, and Cynthia Conrad (husband Tom) of London, England; his grandchildren, John, Michael and Brian, Sean, Jon, Conrad and Alistair, Iris, Angelica and Bodiacia; and his great-grandchild, Cale. Services will be held at the Kuehl-Nicolay Mortuary in Paso Robles on Saturday, January 29, at 2 p.m. For more information, call the Beckwith Agency at (310) 454-0651.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
