Son of the late Arthur H. Beckwith, Sr. and Jennie O’Cain Beckwith. Preceeded in death by his wife of 69 yrs, Zona Mathews Beckwith.
Mr. Beckwith was a lifetime resident of Sanford. Survived by his two sons: John L. (Jack) Beckwith, wife Carla of Cookeville, TN and Kevin Beckwith, wife Janice of Altamonte Springs, FL; granddaughters: Jennifer Beckwith (TN), Heather Beckwith Kimble (Ormond), Tracy Beckwith (Altamonte Springs), Rachel Beckwith (Sanford) , Sierra Beckwith (Altamonte Springs) and Lauren Beckwith (TN); grandsons, John Beckwith (proceeded in death) and Travis Arthur Beckwith (Altamonte Springs); great grandchildren, Jessica Beckwith (TN), Tyler Beckwith (Ormond), Zona Kimble (Ormond) Brianna Branford (Sanford) and Michael Beasley soon to be born; brother, Robert E. Beckwith wife Colleen (VA).
Mr. Beckwith was the Clerk of Circuit Court of Seminole County for 25 years, having held the elected office longer than any Clerk of Circuit Court in Seminole County. Beckwith frequently stated that public service is an honor and privilege that requires the fullest measure of personal integrity and devotion. There is no greater satisfaction than service in the government of free men and women. He pledged himself to be worthy of that great trust and confidence. While Clerk of Circuit Court: he was a member of the County Finance Officer’s Association. He received the coveted Certificate of Conformance from the Government Finance Officers Association for comprehensive annual finance reporting, received the Florida Association of Court Clerks Award for outstanding service (an organization for which he served as President in 1967 & 1968).
Mr. Beckwith was a member of the Traffic Court Review Committee of the Supreme Court of Florida, having been appointed to the committee by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Included in his awards received during his lifetime was the Good Government Award from the Seminole Jaycees, Legion of Honor Award from the Kiwanis Club of Sanford, the Distinguished Service Award from the United Fund of Seminole County. Mr. Beckwith was a member of The First United Methodist Church in Sanford, FL. As an active member he taught Sunday School, was Chairman of the Board of Stewards, President of the Men’s Club and Finance Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of his church.
He was also a member of the General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Bram Towers Board of Directors, Board of Directors of Sanford Kiwanis Club, Board of Director of the Salvation Army, Seminole All Youth Shelter and a 60 plus year member of the American Legion Post 53 of Sanford. A World War II Veteran, he enlisted and served with the 465th Signal Corps Radar Unit from 1942 to 1946.
Mr. Beckwith graduated from Seminole High School in Sanford, FL in 1940 and was educated at Stetson & Temple Universities.
Visitation for Arthur will be Tuesday, June 26 from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Funeral Service at the Oaklawn Chapel of Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Park Cemetery
Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Sanford, is in charge of all arrangements.