Dr. James Beebe Jr., illustrious local physician

Dr. James Beebe Jr., 93, passed away peacefully Friday June 8, 2012, at Cadbury at Lewes.

Dr. Beebe was born in Lewes, Feb. 25, 1919, the son of Dr. James Beebe Sr. and Elsie Kirkland Beebe. He graduated from Lewes High School in 1937, obtained his bachelor of arts degree from Duke University in 1941, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in September, 1944, where he was a member of the Army Student Training Program during World War II.

Dr. Beebe interned at Pennsylvania Hospital and completed his residency in surgery at Burlington County Hospital in Mount Holly, N.J. He then completed a post-graduate program in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 1950. He began his medical practice in surgery at Beebe Medical Center in 1950 where he served as chief of surgery and chief of staff for a number of years, until his retirement in 1993.

Dr. Beebe was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1951 and became a Fellow of the America College of Surgeons in 1953. He served as the governor for Delaware's College of Surgery for six years. Dr. Beebe was awarded the Meritorious Achievement Award for his work on cancer at Beebe Medical Center. He was a member of the Sussex County Medical Society and a member of the American Medical Association where he had served as president and secretary. As a member of the Medical Society of Delaware he was presented the President's Award.

Dr. Beebe was a member and past president of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club, a member of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club where he had served on the Board of Governors for six years, and former director of the Lewes Trust Co., Farmers Bank, Girard Bank, and Mellon Bank. He was a former member and past president of the Board of Education for the Lewes Special School District for 15 years, and a member of the Delaware Board of Medical Practice for 23 years.

He had been active over the years in the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America, Lewes Little League, the Sussex County Republican Party and was a champion for Delaware Hospice where he had served as a medical advisor and mentor during its early beginning years in Sussex County. He was a member and served as chairman of the Beebe Medical Center Board of Directors and was a board member of the Beebe Medical Foundation. It is believed that at 55 consecutive years, Dr. Beebe was the longest serving member of a non-profit community hospital board in the country".

Dr. Beebe enjoyed water skiing, softball and sailing, and had even built his own sailboat. An avid golfer, he had a hole in one at age 81 and another at age 85 on the same hole at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. He also was the proud winner of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club Member Guest Golf Tournament in 2002.

Dr. Beebe is survived by his wife of 28 years Betty Mann Beebe; his three children, Richard L. Beebe and his wife Pat, James Kirkland Beebe and his wife Linda and Nina Beebe Hazzard and her husband Sanford; along with seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Dr. Beebe is also survived by his half brother Allen Beebe; and by his stepsons, Robert McVey and William H. Mann. He was predeceased by his four sisters, Elsie Beebe Swezey, Jean Beebe Ingram, Elisabeth Beebe Marvel and Peggy Beebe Williams; and half brother William Beebe. Dr. Beebe was also predeceased by his former wife, Ruth VanPelt Beebe.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 14, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, with Father Max Wolf officiating, where visitation will be one hour prior to services. Viewing will also be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Entombment will be private at Epworth Methodist Cemetery, Rehoboth Beach.

For those who would like to make a contribution in Dr. Beebe's honor, please send your contribution to the Nursing Education Fund, c/o the Beebe Medical Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, or to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.