ANDERSON - Norman "Norm" Beard, 88, of Anderson passed away at his residence on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Norm was born on December 20, 1932 to William and Myrtle (Johnson) Beard in Albany, Kentucky. At the age of six months his family moved to Ohio. He was elected president of his senior class at Greensburg High School and graduated first in his class.
At the encouragement of the family's pastor, Rev. Pete Meyer, he attended Anderson College where he studied accounting. Upon graduation in 1955 he was awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He earned a Master of Theology degree from the Anderson School of Theology. He was ordained to ministry in the Church of God in 1958. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Ball State University, and did post-graduate work at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash from Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon in 1997. At the time of his retirement Anderson University awarded him the Doctor of Humane Letters in 1998.
In the forty years of his ministry at Anderson University he held several positions. He was an instructor in Speech, Assistant Comptroller, Assistant to President Robert Reardon and Dean of Students. Many students thought his first name was Dean. President Reardon asked Dean Beard to research and create a program similar to the Peace Corps. It began in 1964 and was named "Student Summer Service," or TRI-S. By the end of its first decade more than one thousand students had participated in a TRI-S experiences. Since then many thousands of students, staff and faculty have participated in this program of service, education and cultural experiences in the United States and many countries all over the world. Since the projects became available at other times of the year, the name of TRI-S remained and the letters stood for Study, Serve, and Share. In this capacity Norm traveled extensively throughout the world.
In the Anderson community Norm has been a member of Rotary Club and on the board of the Madison County Chapter of the American Red Cross. His active participation in his home church, Park Place Church of God, has included the Board of Trustees, Church Council and teaching second grade Sunday School classes.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Louetta (Hency), daughters, Nancy (Jeff) Lockhart and Diane (Mike) Vargo; grandchildren, Jacob (Christina) Lockhart, Kyle (Hannah) Lockhart and Maggie Lockhart; brother, Jim (Eileen) Beard and a host of loved nieces and nephews. Norm was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, George Beard and Bob Beard and a sister Wanda (Beard) Kieke.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Park Place Church of God, 501 College Drive, Anderson. Entombment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery.
Visitations will be on Friday, September 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service, 229 S. Rangeline Road at Highway 32 East and on Saturday, September 18 prior to the service beginning at 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at Park Place Church of God.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Park Place Church of God.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com.