James R. Beck Ph.D.

Name: Visitation
Start: 01/25/2019 10:00 AM
End: 01/25/2019 11:00 AM
Location: Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home

August 17, 1931 — January 16, 2019

James R. Beck, Ph.D., 87, of Avon, IN and formerly of Terre Haute passed away Wednesday evening, January 16, 2019 at the Traditions at Reagan Park in Avon. He was a retired Biochemist with Eli Lilly Corporation. Jim was born August 17, 1931 in Paris, IL to Clifford Beck and Rebecca Dunn Beck.

Survivors include his seven nephews, Steve Hays, Dave Hays, Mark Hays (Suzy), Jeff Hays (Kathy), Mike Beck (Annie), Don Beck (Mary) and Bob Beck (Judy); and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John R. Beck; and a sister, Betty Hays.

Jim attended Purdue University for 2 ½ years before joining the Army in 1953 to serve his country in the Korean War. Upon being discharged from the Army in 1956, he wished to continue his education and to become the first in his family to graduate from college. As such, he attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with high honors. Additionally, Jim received his Ph.D. in 1961 before joining Eli Lilly Company in Indianapolis as a research advisor where he worked for 27 years before his retirement in 1988. While at Lilly, Jim invented 48 U.S. patents and authored 35 scientific publications.

Jim enjoyed traveling, genealogy, collecting Inuit carvings and was a life-long Cubs fan. Believing in "giving back" he established the James R. Beck Fellowships (awarding over 150 scholarships in 2018) and the James R. Beck Endowment at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 25, 2019 in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street, with Reverend Bernie Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park with Military Funeral Honors provided by American Legion Post #104. Visitation is scheduled prior to services on Friday from 10:00-11:00 AM. The family kindly requests that memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W. 96th Street, Suite 100 , Indianapolis, IN 46278.
Memorial tributes and funeral information may also be found at www.callahanandhughes.com.

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Friday, January 25, 2019

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home

605 South 25th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803

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