Beckham, John Norman 1925 - 2011 John Norman Beckham was born in Walnut, Arkansas on May 18, 1925, the middle child of 5 children. After graduating from Deer High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 17 and served as a B-24 pilot in the 733rd Air Squadron during World War II. Following the war he worked in California briefly then moved to Kansas City, MO, where he met and married Gwen Malmgren in 1952. In 1960 they moved to Long Beach, CA and John began a career with Autonetics in Anaheim. He stayed with Autonetics (Rockwell International) until his retirement in 1987. After Gwen died in 1989, John married Dorothy "Dottie" Hanson Burbridge in 1991 and together they enjoyed traveling all over the world. John was predeceased by his older brother, William Beckham and his younger brother, Berry Beckham. He is survived by his wife, Dottie; older sister, Pauline Ramsey; and younger sister, Pebble Jean Bennett. He is also survived by his son, Steve Beckham (Meri); daughter, Beth Schlaf (Dave); step-daughters, Sharon Kleinheinz (Jay), Kathy Molyneux (Richard), and Deanna Christy; grandchildren, Brice Beckham, Brooke Beckham White, Katie Schlaf, Brian Schlaf and Tyler Schlaf; step-granddaughter, Diane Shaw; and great-grandson, August White. John passed away on June 22, 2011. Services will be held at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at 800 N. Cambridge in Orange at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 25. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society.