Thomas V. Beaty, Sr.

Mr. Thomas Vernon Beaty, Sr., 82, of Fort Mill, died Sunday, July 10, 2016, at CMC-Pineville.A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14, 2016 at Unity Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Dan Holloway officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall.Born and raised in Charlotte, Mr. Beaty was a son of the late Amos Florida Beaty and Suzie Mae Belk Beaty. He attended Harding High School and served in the U.S. Army, where he worked on radios. Following his time in the service, he graduated from Charlotte College. Mr. Beaty retired from Springs Industries after 35 years of service as an architect.He was a former member of St. John’s United Methodist Church where he served as a Trustee and Assistant Boy Scout Leader. In 2002, he joined Unity Presbyterian Church where he served on the building and stained glass committees and was an elder.Having worked in a movie theater during his youth, Mr. Beaty loved old movies, silent films in particular. He was instrumental in the development of the Fort Mill Community Playhouse. He also enjoyed bluegrass festivals, hiking, canoeing and photography. Being civic-minded, he was the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee and the Board of Appeals for the Town of Fort Mill for many years.He and his wife enjoyed traveling and made many trips in their travel trailer, notably to Alaska, Nova Scotia, Mexico, and Arizona and all the Walmarts in between. Their travel companions were comprised of some of their closest friends and their daughter’s family. Most recently, they had traveled to Switzerland.He had a curious mind and felt that his time in the Army ignited his interest and ability to design and repair most anything in ingenious ways. He was also well known for his talents as a woodworker and was a member of the York County Woodworker’s Club.Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Marlene Ritch Beaty; his son, Thomas Vernon Beaty, Jr. and his wife, Karin of Irmo; his daughter, Valerie Kahabka and her husband, Doyle of Greenacres, Wash.; his sister, Thelma McKinney of Rock Hill; four grandchildren, Thomas Jordan Beaty, Bailey Thomas Kahabka, Morgan Renee Kahabka and Aaron John Kahabka; and niece, Ramona Williams of Rock Hill.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Unity Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1267, Fort Mill, SC 29716.Read Obituary