Dr. James Beebe Jr. dead at age 93
Dr. James Beebe Jr., 93, son of one of the founders of Beebe Medical Center, passed away on Friday, June 8. His wife, Betty Mann Beebe, said Dr. Beebe had been under hospice care at Cadbury's assisted living facility in Lewes at the time of his death at 12:42 a.m.
Married for 29 years, Betty Mann Beebe said Dr. Beebe was her best friend.
Dr. Beebe was born Feb. 25, 1919, in Lewes where he was raised and later would follow in the medical footsteps of his father, Dr. James Beebe Sr., and his uncle, Dr. Richard Beebe. The two brothers founded Beebe Hospital in 1916. Beebe Hospital was the first private hospital in Delaware outside of Wilmington.
Dr. Beebe graduated from Jefferson Medical College after undergraduate education at Duke University in North Carolina. He went to University of Pennsylvania for graduate work in general surgery and began practicing surgery at Beebe Hospital - alongside his father and uncle - in 1950. Dr. Beebe Jr. practiced medicine for 43 years before officially retiring from practice in 1993.
On April 13, Dr. Beebe was among a group of men honored for long years of service to Beebe Medical Center. He served 55 years on the Beebe Medical Center Board and was a member of that board at the time of his death.
Dr. Beebe Jr. also served his community for 15 years as a member of the Board of Education for the Lewes Special School District. An avid golfer, he continued his sport into his 90s.
"He was a giant of the community," said Jeff Fried, president and CEO of Beebe Medical Center. "Obviously we can't replace what he's meant to the hospital and the people he has touched through the years. And of course he wouldn't want us to dwell on that. He would just want us to continue to strive for the excellence that has been passed down as a legacy from his father and uncle, and through him and other members of his family."
Funeral services for Dr. Beebe 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.
See the complete obituary for Dr. Beebe on page 13 of this edition.
