Father of Sharon ’72 & Carolyn ’73 Beham passed away

News story) Rudolph M. Beham, 88, who made a career at the Libbey-Owens-Ford plant in Rossford after Marine Corps service in the Korean War that included the brutal Battle of Chosin Reservoir, died Thursday at his South Toledo home.

He had kidney failure and had undergone dialysis for five years, his son Joe said, yet remained at the home he built about 65 years ago in the former Adams Township.

Mr. Beham was born June 12, 1929, to Theresa and Josef Beham, the youngest of four. His parents came to the United States from Germany, where his siblings were born.

He grew up in West Toledo and was a graduate of DeVilbiss High School. In June, 1948, he enlisted in the Marines. Months after the Korean War began, in September, 1950, he landed at Inchon with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. The fierce battle at Chosin followed in November, with U.N. troops vastly outnumbered by Chinese forces. Temperatures dipped to 30 below, and colder.

“It deeply affected him, because he got night tremors at times his whole life,” his son said.

Mr. Beham suffered frostbite and witnessed casualties – from enemy and friendly fire.

“As a 21-year-old, what they saw and went through was pretty intense,” his son said. “He was able to compartmentalize it, and maybe it caused him to love people that much more. He had a smile that was incredible. Anyone who met him will say he was a gentle sweet human being.”

Mr. Beham was discharged in March, 1952, as a sergeant. In 2014 he went on an Honor Flight with his sons Joe and Rick and Joe’s father-in-law Joe Schweickert. They visited the Korean War, World War II, and Vietnam War memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.

He became a journeyman at Toledo Pipe Threading, where he met his wife, Betty, who worked in the office. For 36 years at L-O-F, he worked on the molds used to create glass for car doors, retiring in 1991.

“It was a great factory job, steady, and he worked dutifully every day,” his son Joe said. “He did what he had to do to support seven kids.”

Surviving are his wife, the former Elizabeth Heintschel, whom he married Sept. 12, 1953; daughters Sharon Leveton, Carolyn Beham, and Barbara Thomas; sons Robert, Ronald, Dr. Richard, and Joseph Beham; brother, Walter Beham; 14 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Walker Funeral Home, Sylvania Township. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Little Flower Church, where he was a member.

The family suggests tributes to Little Flower Parish, Wounded Warrior Project, or Heartbeat of Toledo.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.

Published in Toledo Blade on June 3, 2018