David Gerard Beaumont

David G. Beaumont was born April 17, 1933 in Long Island, NY to Alice and Jerry Beaumont. He was raised in Virginia then in Queens and Brooklyn. He missed out on kindergarten because of whooping cough. Was hit by a bagel truck while crossing the street reading Captain Marvel, suffered a broken arm. As a child he enjoyed making model airplanes, drawing, stamp collecting, playing with neighborhood children, reading and going to movies (only cost .25 cents including snacks). Really enjoyed fishing, crabbing and hunting for rabbits and pheasants with his uncle. Really enjoyed trips with his mom to museums, Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Bldg. His father was serving in first the army and then the navy and then as an electrician; during summers in high school David did electrical work with his father. He attended Brooklyn Polytech University for one year but could not continue for lack of money ($300 for each semester). He got a job at a telephonics assembly line for 90 cents an hour. The Korean War: in May of 1952 he was drafted. He received the highest score on an entrance exam and so was given a choice of how he wished to serve. He chose to work for the National Security Agency, and was given a choice of learning either Arabic, Russian or Chinese. After finishing Chinese language school in Wash, DC, he was sent first to Tokyo then to Korea, where he endured very harsh winters and difficult conditions near the enemy lines for 17 months. Promoted to Sergeant. Was close to the stage when Marilyn Monroe performed to entertain a large gathering of soldiers. He was discharged from the army and entered Hofstra University in 1955 where he met Kathleen Pfeifer at the cafeteria. He said, "I never met any other woman so intelligent and easy to talk to." They married on June 15, 1957 and honeymooned at the Plaza Hotel in NY City, Shenandoah Valley and Virginia Beach. He continued his studies and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering then a Masters in Mathematics. First job was with Sperry Gyroscope Company designing navigational computers for ships and aircraft. Four children were born in Long Island: David, Jeannine, Paul and Gregory. From Jeannine and her husband Rob he received three grandchildren: Megan, Shannon and Danny. From Paul and his wife Fina two more: John and Joseph. David and Gregory both serve as Catholic priests. Ice skating with little David resulted in big David breaking his leg and living in a cast for 3 months. In July of 1968 he moved the family to California to work for Litton Industries, as a navigation computer design engineer and project manager in Sepulveda in the San Fernando Valley, and later would work for Eaton Corporation and then finally at SGL Polycarbon as a Quality Systems Manager. There he improved the quality of operations in all departments of the company, which led to many trips for consulting work in New York, Ohio, Arkansas, Michigan, Texas and even to England, Italy, Germany, Japan and China. Finally retirement came in 2001 at the age of 68, but even then he continued some traveling and consulting work. "Philately" was one of the great hobbies of his life, which is learning about and collecting old stamps, mailing envelopes (covers) and antique picture post cards. He also enjoyed old menus and other paper collectibles. He collected over 50,000 antique postcards and had great joy in bringing them to various weekend postcard and paper collectible shows to sell. All of the family was blessed by his spirit of Adventure and Exploration. We all enjoyed so many great family outings to beaches, mountains, the desert, national parks, art museums, science museums, history museums in addition to enjoying amusement parks and visiting various California towns and cities. From his time in Japan and Korea he always carried with him a special love for Asia. He loved Asian art, music and food. He loved to visit China town, little Tokyo, and any good Chinese restaurant. He said, "You can tell right away in a large city which are the best Chinese restaurants. Just look and see which ones are filled with local Asians, where they themselves go to eat. A good Chinese restaurant is one where you don't have to ask for chopsticks. They only offer chopsticks unless you make a special request for a fork." He said that his dad taught him at an early age to use chopsticks, by putting two bowls on the table, one of them filled with ice cubes. "When you can quickly and easily move all the ice cubes to the other bowl, then you will have mastered the chopsticks." All four kids learned to use them at an early age from the Master. One of the joys of his life was to surprise waitresses by his ability to speak Chinese. "Tsingtao pee-gee-oh!" he would declare loudly with a big grin. He almost never drank any beer or alcohol. But he sure had a grin whenever ordering a Chinese beer in Chinese! David was absolutely a man of faith, which meant for him never missing Mass on Sunday, praying with great devotion, his hands covering his face after receiving Holy Communion, and being a virtuous man of honesty, integrity, responsibility and helping others throughout the week. He beautifully fulfilled his role as the Pastor of his family. Every night, he led us in prayer before dinner. Every Sunday, whether we were at home or away on a trip, he never failed to get the family to Mass. Catholic education was a priority for him, and he sacrificed much to enable all four children to have an opportunity for Catholic school. We went to both public and Catholic schools, whichever was the best fit at the time. One of the churches where the family attended Sunday Mass was the old San Fernando Mission, one of the original 21 churches in California, with its thick adobe walls, tile floor, beautiful gardens and cemetery, fascinating history, museum rooms and gift shop. In about 2001, Pastor Msgr Francis Weber asked him, since he had two sons who were priests, to consider being a docent (tour guide). Many visitors request tours at the Old Mission, especially groups of 4th graders studying California history. He agreed and spent the next 17 years sharing his love for history and the Mission with thousands of people. He became good friends with the other tour guides and looked forward to their gatherings. He enjoyed this so much that he would not only lead scheduled tours, he would also just come at any day or hour and start talking to visitors and before long he would have a group following him as he shared stories and taught faith and history. In 2003 David suffered a serious heart attack. Praise God, with a 4x bypass surgery, pacemaker/defibrillator, lots of medications and checkups, he was able to survive two additional minor heart attacks and live nearly another 20 years. He really was grateful when he reached 84yrs old, the oldest he said anyone had ever reached in his family tree. David and Kathleen were faithfully married for 64 years until her passing in Jan, 2021. When she suffered from memory loss he accepted all the challenges of caring for her at home for 6 years until it was no longer possible or the best for both of them. He moved from Los Angeles to Reedley to live with her at Sierra View Retirement Home where he was able to continue to spend time with her. It was there that he met many new friends, and both of them received loving and compassionate care in their final years. He was well known and appreciated at Sierra View, where he participated in outings and socials including the morning Coffee Club. He enjoyed greeting and holding the door for those coming and going for dinner or for their medications and he gave a few lectures on the English Language or the History of Christmas. He had a silly fun sense of humor. Sierra View is a ministry of Mennonite Christians. With a serious face he would ask residents whether they heard of the splinter group of dissatisfied Mennonite women, who left the denomination and started the "Women of Days". If you don't understand why that's funny, read it again until you do. He said, "God has given me a simple mission in my final years. To teach others something they don't know, and to make others laugh and smile." He became well known and appreciated at Holy Family Catholic Church in Kingsburg. His humor and outgoing personality brought many smiles. When he was not able to walk in the annual Corpus Christi Procession he was happy to participate on the atv trailer hayride which Fr. Gregory provided. He attended Sunday Mass and socials and special events and feast days of the Church community as well as the parades and festivals of Kingsburg. He would often talk about death with openness and acceptance. He was so thankful for the many blessings in his life. When asked the question, "Are you afraid to die?" he answered: "No, I'm not afraid to die. I do not think it must be a very difficult a thing to do -- when I consider all the many millions of people who have already managed to do it quite successfully. Rosary will be held at 6:00 PM Tuesday, September 6th, 2022 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1275 Smith Street, Kingsburg. Mass of Christian Burial services will be held at10:30 AM Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1275 Smith Street, Kingsburg. A 2nd Mass of Christian Burial services will be held at 12:00 PM Wednesday, September 8th, 2022 at San Fernando Rey de Espana Catholic Church, 15151 San Fernandez Mission Blvd, Mission Hills, Ca. Burial will immediately follow the San Fernando Mission Cemetery, 11160 Stranwood Avenue Mission Hills, Ca. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

David Gerard Beaumont

April 17, 1933 - August 9, 2022