| Graduation Year | Class of 1961 |
| Date of Passing | Oct 21, 2022 |
| About | Gary Lynn Beard, age 79, of New Oxford, PA died Friday, October 21, 2022 at Autumn West in York, PA. Born June 6, 1943 in Frederick, he was the son of the late Richard Luther Beard and Mary Elizabeth Pittinger Beard. He was the husband of L. Diane Beard who died in 2013. Gary served in the U.S. Airforce from 1961-65. He was a Maryland State Policeman for 21 years, the first 10 years as a road trooper and a K-9 handler, having the first NARC dog in Maryland. His final 11 years he was a medivac pilot, had his license as a commercial helicopter pilot, his instrument helicopter rating and was also a helicopter flight instructor. Following retirement, he was employed as a technical specialist with AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) and then worked as a flight instructor with Helicopter Applicators Inc. He was a 135-air carrier pilot, a sling pilot in the Poconos and served as a liaison with the FAA. Gary then worked as an armed security guard at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg and the Gettysburg Courthouse and was an NRA and Maryland State Police firearms instructor. He enjoyed indoor and outdoor archery (won 2nd place in a Maryland Indoor Archery tournament) and photography. He was a master mason at Acacia Lodge #155 of Thurmont. Surviving are his daughter, Jamie Lynn Shallcross and husband Scott of Escondido, CA; sister Jo Ann Wilson and husband James D. of Union Bridge; 1 niece, 1 nephew, 2 great nieces and 1 great nephew. He was predeceased by a son, Perry Scott Beard in 1988. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 27 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Hartzler Funeral Home, 404 S. Main St., Woodsboro. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at Rocky Hill Cemetery, Woodsboro with Rev. Dahl Drenning officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas, 66675. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on his "tribute wall" at www.hartzlerfuneralhome.com. Gary L. Beard Published by The Frederick News-Post on Oct. 24, 2022. |
