Beecher Herald, age 96, of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away on the fifth day of May 2026.
Born on October 8, 1929 in Laurel County, Kentucky, Beecher was the youngest child in the family. His parents, William McDaniel Herald and Fanny Reynolds Herald, moved to the Crockettsville area of Breathitt County when he was still a small child. His older brothers taught him grit and his sisters taught him how to nurture. Beecher graduated from Buchhorn High School in 1948, attended Lees Junior College, and earned a degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University.
While attending Lees Junior College, Beecher met Glenna Anderson when he was recruited to join a square dance. They were married the day after Christmas in 1950. The next years brought many challenges, including the loss of two children, military service and summers working in factories with his brother.
After college, the opportunity to teach in the same school system took Beecher and Glenna to New Richmond, Ohio where two daughters and a beloved pug joined the family. Beecher taught fifth and sixth grade math and science until retirement, coaching seventh grade basketball for many of those years. While math was his true love, science demonstrations brought out his child-like glee. He often said that he “was put on this earth to teach” so school administration and high school coaching were never considered. Beecher was an active member of the Kiwanis Club and Teacher’s Association, serving as President of both organizations, and was active in Cranston Memorial Presbyterian Church.
In the early 1980s, he helped organize a hoedown square dance club and performed with the Midwesterners (a square dance group originally formed for the Midwestern Hayride TV show). Square dancing (hoedown and western) took them around the country as they traveled to national conventions. In 1992, Beecher and Glenna served on the organizing committee of the National Square Dance Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time, it was the largest event hosted in the Cincinnati region with more than 21,000 attendees.
Retirement brought a move to Spring Hill, Florida where they continued their square dancing and enjoyed golf course community living. Beecher was a talented golfer and owner of five Hole-in-One trophies.
With all his many accomplishments, Beecher will most be remembered for his caring and devotion to others. Beecher was committed to supporting his students both inside and outside the classroom. To ensure he could assist them whenever needed, he purchased his own copies of the textbooks used in his classes. When the school needed a press box for the football field, he helped build it. The snowplow on his tractor scraped many a driveway in his neighborhood. When his neighbors in Florida were sick, Beecher would take them food and feed them. No task was too big or too small. When he could no longer live on his own, he still looked after his neighbors, often being the first to notice when others needed assistance.
Remaining to cherish Beecher’s memory are his spouse, Glenna Anderson Herald, his daughters, Joy (Peter) Rutan and Rebecca (Lisa) Sweeney, grandchildren, Kadin Glenna Sweeney and Will Beecher Sweeney, sisters-in-law, Edna Anderson and Joyce Anderson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Beecher in death are his children, Patricia and Linda Herald, siblings, Astor, Estill, Aophir, Flora and Odessa, nephew, William R. Amis, and niece, Imogene Herald.
Interment will be at Buck Herald Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will take place on a future date.
