ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993                   TAG: 9310180219
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                 LENGTH: Medium

OBIT BEECHER, ALBERT SLOAN

BEECHER, Albert Sloan, 79, of Blacksburg, died Friday, October 15, 1993 at Montgomery Regional Hospital. Surviving are his wife, Mildred P. Beecher; his son, William P. "Bill" Beecher; his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth P. "Betty" and Kenneth W. Moore; and his grandchildren, Alan and Suzanne Moore, all of Blacksburg. Also surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Robert S. and Marjorie H. Beecher of Southport, Conn. He was Professor Emeritus of Horticulture at Virginia Tech, having retired in 1978 after 31 years of service. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in 1937 and received a Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts in 1954. He was President of the American Boxwood Society from 1976 to 1981; served as an Honorary Member of the Virginia Nurseryman's Association and served as editor of the Virginia Nurseryman's Newsletter from 1957 to 1974. He was also an Honorary and Life Member of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs and served as an Instructor of Horticulture and Landscape Design for the National Council of State Garden Clubs. In the community, he was active in the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, served as past president of the Blacksburg Host Lion's Club and the Blacksburg AARP. He was dedicated to the civic beautification of Blacksburg and served as a charter member of the Townscape Committee and as a member of the Price House Advisory Board. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, at the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Cameron D. Murchison Jr. will officiate. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the home, 807 Sunrise Drive. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Virginia Tech Foundation, C/O Dept. of Horticulture, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. 24061-0327 or Eye Bank of Virginia, C/O Blacksburg Lions Club, 3322 McEver Road, Blacksburg, Va. 24060. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home. 


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