Keith Becker passes away



Keith with Gene McIntire at Honor Flight

Dorman Keith “Legs” Beckner, Class of 1942, on the 1940 Monongah High Marion County champions unbeaten football team, passed away Wednesday, April 13. He got the nickname of “Legs” when he played end for Monongah for Coach Rinehart.

He was 93 last October.

Anthony Pulice, Jr., Class of 1945, recalls:

“My brother, Saverio Pulice, Junie Thompson and Keith Beckner were considered ‘the Three Musketeers’ ... very close friends. RIP, Legs.”

Saverio, Class of 1942, who lives in Elkton, Maryland, and Anthony’s sister is the late Genevieve “Jennie” Pulice, Class of 1936.

Keith married Ramona Rogers, Class of 1944. The children are Rhea Lee Beckner Hillberry of Littleton, Colorado,a Fairmont West High and Fairmont State graduate married to Gary Hillberry and retired from the Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado, and Roger Keith Beckner.

Keith was among three Class of 1942 members who attended the 2014 Monongah High Alumni Reunion. They were the oldest of the 150 who attended. Everett Jones and Roseann Orwig were the other 1942 grads at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fairmont.

In 2014 Keith and Gene McIntire, friends and Monongah Baptist Church members for many years, rode the Honor Flight for military veterans from Clarksburg to Washington, D.C. Bill Poe of Fairmont, was assigned their Guardian to see to their every needs during the trip and stay. Poe previously lived in Oregon.

Keith’s arrangements at Domico Funeral Home are incomplete. When I get his obituary I’ll be sure to post it on this Monongah High Alumni blog.

 

Keith (circled) on unbeaten 1940 Monongah High Marion County champs