BECKNER, Paul James - b. August 20, 1914 - d. October 1, 2006

[Janet Harrington]

  Paul James Beckner of Hutchinson, Kan., formerly of Neodesha, died Sunday, October 1, 2006 at Wesley Towers in Hutchinson.  He was 92.
  Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006, at the United Methodist Church in Neodesha under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel.  The Reverends Kris Brinlee and Roger Gausman will officiate.  Interment will be in Neodesha Cemetery.
  The family will receive friends Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 2-3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church.
  Mr. Beckner was born on a farm near Howard, Kan., in Elk County on August 20, 1914, to Robert and Cora (Bruton) Beckner.
  In 1935 he graduated from Elk Falls High School.  He married Ruth Margaret Peterson on April 25, 1936, in Howard.  Beginning in 1934, he taught children in rural schools in Elk County and in public schools in Moline, Grenola and Neodesha.  For 28 years, he served as an elementary principal in Moline and Grenola as well as at South Elementary, Central Elementary and Heller Elementary schools in Neodesha.
  After retiring in 1979, he devoted the remainder of his life to woodworking, camping, traveling, fishing and grand-parenting.
  Mr. Beckner was a member of the United Methodist Church in Neodesha, the Neewollah Campers of Independence, Kan., the National Education Association and the Kansas National Education Association.  He earned undergraduate and graduate college degrees from kansas State Teachers College in Emporia and Colorado State College of Education in Greeley.
  Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of Hutchinson, Kan.; two daughters, Janet and husband Stan Roth of Lawrence and Karen and her husband Roger Gausman of Hutchinson; eight grandchildren, Kathie Gausman, Hutchinson, Jim Roth and Jane Waterman, Oviedo, Fla., John Gausman, Emporia, Debby and Brad Ziegler, Lawrence, Carl and Shannon Gausman, Grimes, Iowa; sever great-grandchildren, Jack, Carso, Margaret and Adam Ziegler; Tim and Alex Roth; and Joshua Paul Gausman.