Obituary of Eileen Beckman

Eileen Brent Beckman, daughter of Henry Mason and Rose O'Hara Brent, died peacefully Sunday, May 2, 2010. Born August 20, 1918 in Bedford, she graduated from Bedford High School and St. Mary's Junior College, Raleigh, North Carolina where she was a founding member of The Order of the Circle Sorority, and was a lifetime member of St. John's Episcopal Church. She was the wife of Carl William Beckman who preceded her in death. She was a member of the Bedford Book Forum, a Board member of the Virginia Horse Shows Association and one of the founders of the Virginia Pony Breeders Association. She served in the Red Cross in WWII and taught riding lessons for more than 65 years. She made her biggest mark in the equestrian world with her Otteridge Farm. What stands out in the minds of many was her unparalleled dignity, grace and class - and her special gift for passing those qualities on to her students. Most recently she was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. She is survived by her son Philip Beckman, Naples, Florida; daughter Laura Rodes and husband Jim, Bedford; daughter Randee Beckman, Bedford; nephew Randy Brent, Manassas; niece Kendall Calvert and husband Francis, Chesapeake, and four grandchildren, Katie and Will Gardner, Bedford; and Sarah and Ryan Rodes, also of Bedford. A Memorial Service will be held 3 p.m. Thursday May 6, 2010, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Bedford, with the Rev. G. Thomas Mustard and the Rev. F. Wilson Brown officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Bedford Public Library, the Bedford City-County Museum and the National D-day Memorial. Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford is handling the arrangements.