Beith, James K.

James Kingston Beith, Sr., born November 21, 1919, in Dorchester to James and Florence Rebecca (Kingston) Beith from Paisley, Scotland, and Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, respectively, died in Efland, North Carolina, on August 29, 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Florence Rebecca, his sister, Florence Isabel Faring, and his beloved wife of 48 years, Eleanor (Peterson) Beith. He graduated from South Boston High School and started working as an office boy at Boston Gas Company. He then entered the Army Air Corps and rose to the rank of captain, flying aircraft loaded with gasoline, personnel and supplies over the Himalayas (“the Hump”) with Air Transport Command in the China-Burma-India Theatre (CBI) during World War II.

In St. Joseph, Missouri, he met his lovely Eleanor of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and San Francisco, California, who was a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (WASP). They married after the war in Glendale, California, then crossed the country to settle in the Boston area. Jimmy, also known as “Kingie” to all his boyhood friends and relations, returned to Boston Gas Company and concurrently studied nightly at the Bentley School of Accounting and received a BBA from Northeastern University. He remained at Boston Gas Company for 44 years, retiring in 1982 as superintendent of customer relations.

He and Ellie raised their four children in homes in Randolph, Stoughton and Canton. In 1990, Jim and Ellie moved from Canton to the Ft. Lauderdale area, where Ellie passed away in 1992. Jim remained in Davie, Florida, for 20 years, making annual excursions to New England to summer with his sons as well as visits to daughter Nancy in San Francisco, cousins in Ireland, and assorted other trips around the country with friends and family. He had a passion for golf, ballroom and line dancing, the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and above all, his family.

Jim was a longstanding member of the Dorchester Masonic Lodge and served as master in 1954. He also served on the Vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Canton and enjoyed playing football and softball in his younger years and the Boston Gas Company bowling leagues. He generously supported several charities, including the Alzheimer’s Association and the DAV.

He is survived by his four children: Bonnie Mackinnon Triplett (Gary) of Efland, North Carolina, with whom he resided for the last year of his life, James K. Jr. (Linda) of Bristol, RI, Eric P. (Rosalie) of Weston, and Nancy E. of San Francisco. “Grampy” was very proud of his 10 grandchildren: Neil Mackinnon, Andrew Mackinnon, Michaela Beith Goodwin, Patrick Beith, Kathleen Beith Kaschenbach, Morgan Beith Tower, Sara Beith, Michael Beith, Christina Triplett-Wagenknecht, and Alexa Haley Valdez. “Great-Grampy” was very delighted by his ten great-grandchildren (with two more on the way): Ryan Mackinnon, Cailin Mackinnon, Liliana Kaschenbach, Colton Kaschenbach, Harrison Tower, Deni Valdez de Haley, Donovan Beith, Brady Goodwin, Charlotte Tower, and Minka Kaschenbach. He was the loving “Uncle Kingie” to Bruce Faring, Gail Faring and Wayne Faring. He is cherished by his family and friends and will be dearly missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.

Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home, 455 Washington Street, Friday, September 6, from 5-8 p.m. Funeral Eucharist at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 1 Blue Hill River Road, Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=22191

Posted by Canton Citizen on Sep 5 2013. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.