Charles Ricardo "Nish" Beard, 87, passed away May 3, 2018 in the Dayton VA Hospice Center. He was born August 25, 1930 in Springfield, Ohio the son of William and Ella B. (Buchannan) Beard Sr. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1948 and attended Wittenberg University from 1954-1956 and Central State University from 1956-1958. Nish served his country in the U.S. Army from 1945-1946 and the U.S. Navy from 1948-1952 and was honorably discharged. He had been employed at Gentile Air Force Base for 5 years and retired in 1985 from Defense Electric Supply Center after 33 years of dedicated service and having over 43 years of military and civilian service. Charles was a member of Wiley United Methodist Church (Sunday School Teacher) from 1952-1959; Broaddus Chapel United Methodist Church from 1959-1985 (Sunday School Teacher and Lay Leader) and Trinity AME Church (Sunday School Teacher, Trustee and Steward) Charles is survived by daughters, Jan Eloise (James) Williams and Julie Anna Beard both of Springfield, Ohio; 5 grandchildren, Charles R. (Charmaine) Beard Sr. Of Huber Heights, Ohio, Ivy (Kwinton Williams) Beard of Delaware , Ohio, Earl Taylor III and Faith Beard both of Springfield, Ohio and Katherine Beard of Marysville, Ohio; 3 great grandsons, Hakim Beard, Charles Beard Jr. and Shawn Burns; brother-in-law, Mort D. Moreland; devoted nephew, Robert (Gloria) Portis and special friends, Don (Joanne) Nash and Shirley Robbins and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 61 years, Anna Mae (Moreland) Beard; daughter, Kimberly; 8 sisters, Lucille Strauss, Lizzie Mae Beard, Lillian Evans, Rosie Scott, Helen Arnold, Esther Jean Evans, Joyce May and Patricia Clark; two brothers, Robert Beard and William Beard. Mr. Beard's service to the Springfield community included over two decades as Leader of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 134, The Rites of Passage, Trinity AME Church Youth Summer Program and a member of the Springfield City School District Board of Education (2001-2005). In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Charles R. Beard Scholarship Fund, Bass-Smith Connection 115 Wells Drive Springboro, Ohio 45066.

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