Robert A. Beckley

November 10, 1934 - March 1, 2022

Robert A. Beckley, age 87 of Mt. Sylvan, Texas, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Tyler, Texas. He was born November 10, 1934, in Belleville, Illinois to the late Harold Eaton and Elizabeth Agnes (McLean) Beckley. Robert has lived in Mt. Sylvan for the last 22 years, where he was a member of the Mt. Sylvan Baptist Church, and was previously of Effingham, Illinois, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and Tilden, Illinois. He served his country in the Unites States Army and worked throughout his life as a Mechanical Engineer. Robert held 8 patents related to the printing industry in which he worked and was retired from Support Products Inc. in Effingham, Illinois. Robert had a true servant’s heart and after retirement was very active in the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and the Habitat for Humanity, having been involved in the building and renovation of 52 houses in a 20-year period. He also enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles, traveling both home and abroad, and was an inveterate Goldwinger, having ridden his bike through all but two of the Lower 48 states. Robert was preceded in death by brothers, Dick and Bill Beckley. Robert is survived by his wife, Wilma Beckley of Mt. Sylvan, Texas; son, Milton Beckley and wife, Peach of Ft. Pierce, Florida; daughter, Deborah Shepard and husband, Scott of Jonesboro, Illinois; stepdaughter, Denise Patrick and husband, Glen of Mt. Sylvan, Texas; stepson, Phillip Keplar and wife, Ericka of Kinnelon, New Jersey; brother, Jim Beckley of Illinois; sister, Wanda Campbell and husband, Jack of Illinois; grandchildren that knew Robert as "PawPaw", Jennifer Laughlin, Alex Betuski, Samantha and Victor Najduch, Devan and Megan Patrick, Dylan Patrick and Kimberly Patrick, Carissa and Sagar Gandhi; great grandchildren, Ruari Laughlin, Brayden Patrick, and 2 expected this summer; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Sylvan Baptist Church, Building Fund or Youth Fund.