Charles Michael Beatenbough, Sr

Charles Michael Beatenbough, Sr., age 92, passed away at his Gainesville, Georgia residence on June 8, 2020.

Charles is survived by his wife of 70 years, Clara Camp Beatenbough, their children, Charles Michael Beatenbough, Jr. of Newnan, Georgia, Susan B. (Kenneth) Morris of Concord, Georgia, Hedy (Jeff) Farley of Gainesville, Georgia, John C. Beatenbough of Cumming, Georgia, seventeen grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, his brother Paul (Joyce) Beatenbough of Lyndonville, New York, and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Rachel Beatenbough Coffee of Austell, Georgia.

Born February 29, 1928, in Danielsville, Georgia, Charles was the third child of the late Charles Edwin and Allene Fowler Beatenbough.  In 1945, at the age of 17, he was recruited by the United States Navy where he was chosen to train as an electronics technician.  After completing his term of service, he enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Upon graduation from Georgia Tech in 1953, Charles was employed by Bell Telephone Laboratories in Burlington, NC.  Over the next 27 years his career took him and his family to New Jersey, to Kwajalein (The Marshall Islands), back to New Jersey, to North Carolina again, to Indiana, and finally to Atlanta, Georgia, where he retired from AT&T.  As an engineer Charles worked on a variety of projects, from anti-ballistic missiles to telephone technology.  He was well respected throughout his career and holds several patents.

Charles was a quiet man, a gentle man, with a subtle but keen wit.  A very intelligent man, he was an avid reader and loved to learn and then share his knowledge with his family.  He enjoyed travelling and adventure, and, during his stint in the Marshall Islands, his favorite activity was scuba-diving.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2020 in the chapel of Little & Davenport Funeral Home.  Rev. Joe Morecraft will officiate.  Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Georgia National Cemetery.  Due to COVID-19 and the regulations set up for the protection of everyone, social distancing will need to be observed at the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.