Beale, Jr., James Preston

Known by many throughout Virginia in his 93 years of life, James (Dick, Pop) Preston Beale, Jr., departed this earthly life on Tuesday, March 10th, 2015. He was born in the Holland community of Suffolk, Virginia on February 23rd, 1922 to the late James Preston Beale, Sr. and Estelle Holland Beale Phelps.

He had one brother, Thomas Alvin Beale; one sister, Helen Beale Hawkins, also preceding him in death; and one half-brother, Rhea C. Phelps, Jr., living in Tennessee. James was married to Arliene Doughtie Beale and succession to Nettie Batton Beale, both who predeceased him.

James leave to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy of love to his family, one birth son, James (Jimmie) Preston Beale, III, and one daughter-in-law, Adele Hungerford Beale, who he lived with in Rich Creek, Virginia. He has left behind grandchildren, Amy Lynette Beale O’Connell, Mathew James Beale, both of Midlothian in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Amie Reynolds Bremer of Appomattox, Virginia, and James Morgan Reynolds of Windsor, Virginia. James is beloved by many blended great-grandchildren that were touched by his gentleness with them. He leaves behind a brother-in-law, Phillip Yates Doughtie from the Hunterdale community of Franklin, Virginia.

James has left behind nieces and nephews, Tommy Beale of Princeton, Louisiana, Bobby Beale of Suffolk, Anne Beale Aukes, Windsor, Virginia, and Hope Hawkins Griffin of Suffolk. Many of his lifetime friends have predeceased him, but Pop carries with him the fond memories of his friends at the Giles County Senior Center in Pearisburg, Virginia. His occupation as a dry cleaner in Suffolk allowed him many friends up to his retirement at the age of 82. He was a charter member and past deacon of Wilroy Baptist Church of Suffolk, and past served as deacon with New Market Baptist Church in Newport News. He was a current member of First Baptist Church of Princeton, West Virginia, and a Gideon in the Giles County Camp. He is a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and fought the Germans in North Africa all the way through Italy to the German border.

A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, March 17th, 2015 at 2 PM, followed by a gathering of friends and family at Wilroy Baptist Church in Suffolk. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suffolk, next to his first wife, Arliene. In addition, Pop’s life will be celebrated on Thursday, March 19th at 11 AM at the Giles Senior Center in Pearisburg.

The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.