Francis E. Beck | Bank vice president, 96

Francis E. Beck, 96, a retired bank vice president formerly of Havertown, died Sunday at Blue Bell Place, an assisted-living facility in Blue Bell.

Mr. Beck dropped out of Northeast High School and went to work in the mail room at Philadelphia National Bank in 1929. The next year, he advanced to the correspondence department.

During World War II, he served in the Marine Corps in the Pacific and earned a high school diploma while in the military. After his discharge, Mr. Beck returned to the bank and earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Rutgers University while working.

He eventually became vice president for security and prosecuted bank fraud, said his daughter, Roberta Doran. He retired in 1976.

Mr. Beck had been a member and treasurer of Trinity United Methodist Church in Havertown.

A Mason, he was a member of the Widener-Apollo-Kensington Lodge in Philadelphia for 75 years. He played trombone in the Lulu Temple Concert Band in Plymouth Meeting, as recently as three years ago, his daughter said. He also played in a dance band and a German band.

He enjoyed travel, the Jersey Shore, and time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Beck is survived a son, Ron; a sister; and six grandchildren. His wife of 34 years, Irene James Beck, died in 1984.

A funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Frank C. Videon Funeral Home, 2001 Sproul Rd., Broomall, where friends may call after 12:30. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill.