Lenoir - Ed Beam of Lenoir, NC passed away on March 6, 2015. He was born in
1923, in Cleveland County (Fallston), son of Homer and Vernie Beam. In
addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Lydia
Stroud Beam and infant son, brothers Robert Earl Beam and D.C. Beam.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Beam and daughters Debbie Beam of Apex,
NC and Julie Delgaudio (Michael) of High Point, NC; granddaughter Kristin
Walters of Denver, CO and grandson Zach Walters of San Diego, CA; sister,
Mildred Lawson (John) of Grafton, VA and brother, Frank Beam (Mary) of
Shelby. He is also survived by a stepdaughter Mary Frances Comer (Fred) and
stepson Edwin Hartshorn as well as two step granddaughters Mary English
Comer and Caroline Comer.

Upon graduation from high school at age 15, he went to NC State University
where his education was interrupted by military service, assigned to the
Army's 89th Infantry Division. After serving in WWII and the Korean War, he
was honorably discharged from service with a rank of Captain.

Dr. Beam received both his BS and MS degrees from North Carolina State
University. He had been a teacher of vocational agriculture, a high school
principal, a district supervisor of vocational agriculture and an
agriculture professor at NC State University, completing his doctorate at
UNC Chapel Hill.

He was selected as Caldwell Technical Institute's founding president in 1964
and moved with his family to Lenoir. In 1970 the institute was granted the
designation of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. He
retired in 1984 after 20 years of service. He returned as interim president
from 1994 to 1995 and in addition served as interim president at
Southeastern Community College, Wilkes Community College and McDowell
Technical Community College.

Dr. Beam was the recipient of the I.E. Ready Award, the highest honor the
State Board of Community Colleges bestows. It is presented to individuals
who have contributed significantly to the establishment and growth of North
Carolina's community colleges. Ed was the recipient of the Man of the Year
Award and Parkway Bank's Pinnacle Award.

Ed was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Lenoir and served his
community with leadership and dedication for many years. He was an active
member of Lenoir Rotary Club, on the board of Caldwell Memorial Hospital and
served in numerous ways in the community.

The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist
Church of Lenoir, 304 Main Street Northwest, Lenoir, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
on Monday, March 9, 2015.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Lenoir, 304 Main
Street Northwest, Lenoir, 11:00AM Tuesday March 10, 2015 with Drs. David
Smith and Thomas Hinton officiating.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00PM Tuesday at Fallston Baptist
Church Cemetery, 109 Circle Drive, Fallston, with military graveside rites
rendered by the Rutherford County Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Caldwell Community College and
Technical Institute Foundation, H. Edwin Beam Scholarship or Lydia Beam
Scholarship, 2855 Hickory Boulevard, Hudson, NC 28638, or to First Baptist
Church 304 Main Street, NW Lenoir, NC 28645, or to Caldwell County Hospice
and Palliative Care 902 Kirkwood Street, NW Lenoir, NC 28645.

A guest register is available at www.stameytysingerfuneralhome.com.

Stamey Tysinger Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Fallston is serving the
Beam family.