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George Beck, Retired Assistant Chief The wonderful life of George Norton Beck Jr. came to a peaceful end on October 27, 2019 at his home in San Pedro, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with his family at his bed side. George was born on November 13, 1924 in Alamosa, Colorado to parents George Norton Beck Sr. and Lula Mae Tippit. George was the 4th of 10 children and the family traveled to San Bernardino, CA, where they survived by farming and raising livestock. The family moved to Flagstaff, AZ for several years before returning to San Bernardino, where George graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1942. On his 18th birthday, George enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and, after his training was completed, George was transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations where he served as a gunner on a B-29 Bomber, based in Saipan. George ended up flying 35 combat missions over Japan. He was the tail gunner on the “American Maid” and the Central Fire Control gunner on the “Misty Christy” and faced heavy enemy fire on nearly every mission he flew. For his wartime service, George was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross, medals the family only discovered while cleaning out his office after his passing. |
After the war ended, George applied through the G.I. Bill to the University of Southern California where he pursued a degree in Public Administration. At USC, George met and fell in love with Elma Catherine Keller. George and Elma were married on September 3, 1948 and loved and supported each other for the next 61 years, until Elma’s death in 2010.
After graduation from USC, George applied to the Los Angeles Police Department, completed academy training. He was sworn in as a member of LAPD in June of 1950. George and Elma bought a home in Lakewood, CA and soon welcomed a son, Charlie, in 1953 and a daughter, Megan, in 1955. While raising his young family, George also continued his education, and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USC.
George made significant contributions during his 30-year career with the LAPD, including the development of the first SWAT training, and he steadily rose through the ranks of the Department, eventually rising to the position of Assistant Chief of Police in 1975. In addition to his outstanding individual service, George left an enduring legacy as his son, daughter, niece, grandson, and granddaughter all became LAPD officers, with Charlie serving for 9 years as Chief of the organization George loved so much.
George had a wide variety of interests and a natural curiosity to seek out new pursuits. When they moved to San Pedro in 1976, George and Elma joined the local running club, the Pt. Fermin Flyers, and soon went from running 2 miles a day to running Marathons. George was one of 17 runners who completed the first Catalina Marathon and he went on to run the first 10 editions of this difficult marathon, joined for the last 7 by Elma. George was also an excellent golfer and was a long-time member of the Los Verdes Men’s Club. George hand kneaded and made the family bread; he joined the rose society of the South Coast Botanical Garden and tended to a garden of over 80 rose bushes in his yard in San Pedro; he loved wood working and built many furniture items for his home; he took up beekeeping for several years; he learned to play piano in his 60s; he volunteered his time to leaderships positions with the San Pedro YMCA, the Angel’s Gate Cultural Center, the Elks Lodge, and also taught reading to children and adults. Reading was a passion for George. George devoured books. His library was overflowing with books of every genre, although his favorites were Civil War and WWII history and the classics of literature, one of which arrived every month for decades from the book club he had joined.
George also loved to travel and, after his retirement from LAPD in 1980, he and Elma explored the world. Alternately picking trips on an annual basis, they went bike riding in China, Holland, and England, on safari in Africa, hiked the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska, cruised the Galapagos Islands, and went golfing (George) and painting (Elma) in Ireland. When the grandkids came along, Grandma and Grandpa were always with us in Mexico, Hawaii, Lake Lundy, and wherever else we traveled to.
Despite his many accomplishments, George’s greatest source of pride and love was his family. George was generous, never preachy, and gave us all freedom to explore and live our lives and make our mistakes and learn from them. We will always look to George as a shining example of how to live a full and happy life.
George was preceded in death by his wife Elma, his parents, his sister Peggy, his brothers Raymond, Kirby, Chuck, Bobby, and Don. He is survived by his sister Charlet, his brothers Marty and Derrald, his son Charlie (Cindy) Beck, daughter Megan (John) McElroy, grandchildren Brandi Scimone, Martin Beck, Megan Matzke, Carly, Quinn, and Tess McElroy and great grand-children Peyton, Jeffrey, and Caleb Matzke.
The family would like to thank Rick Suarez for being George’s good friend and caregiver for the last 7 years.
A memorial service to honor George will be held on Saturday November 30th at 11 a.m. at the Los Angeles Police Academy.
After graduation from USC, George applied to the Los Angeles Police Department, completed academy training. He was sworn in as a member of LAPD in June of 1950. George and Elma bought a home in Lakewood, CA and soon welcomed a son, Charlie, in 1953 and a daughter, Megan, in 1955. While raising his young family, George also continued his education, and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USC.
George made significant contributions during his 30-year career with the LAPD, including the development of the first SWAT training, and he steadily rose through the ranks of the Department, eventually rising to the position of Assistant Chief of Police in 1975. In addition to his outstanding individual service, George left an enduring legacy as his son, daughter, niece, grandson, and granddaughter all became LAPD officers, with Charlie serving for 9 years as Chief of the organization George loved so much.
George had a wide variety of interests and a natural curiosity to seek out new pursuits. When they moved to San Pedro in 1976, George and Elma joined the local running club, the Pt. Fermin Flyers, and soon went from running 2 miles a day to running Marathons. George was one of 17 runners who completed the first Catalina Marathon and he went on to run the first 10 editions of this difficult marathon, joined for the last 7 by Elma. George was also an excellent golfer and was a long-time member of the Los Verdes Men’s Club. George hand kneaded and made the family bread; he joined the rose society of the South Coast Botanical Garden and tended to a garden of over 80 rose bushes in his yard in San Pedro; he loved wood working and built many furniture items for his home; he took up beekeeping for several years; he learned to play piano in his 60s; he volunteered his time to leaderships positions with the San Pedro YMCA, the Angel’s Gate Cultural Center, the Elks Lodge, and also taught reading to children and adults. Reading was a passion for George. George devoured books. His library was overflowing with books of every genre, although his favorites were Civil War and WWII history and the classics of literature, one of which arrived every month for decades from the book club he had joined.
George also loved to travel and, after his retirement from LAPD in 1980, he and Elma explored the world. Alternately picking trips on an annual basis, they went bike riding in China, Holland, and England, on safari in Africa, hiked the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska, cruised the Galapagos Islands, and went golfing (George) and painting (Elma) in Ireland. When the grandkids came along, Grandma and Grandpa were always with us in Mexico, Hawaii, Lake Lundy, and wherever else we traveled to.
Despite his many accomplishments, George’s greatest source of pride and love was his family. George was generous, never preachy, and gave us all freedom to explore and live our lives and make our mistakes and learn from them. We will always look to George as a shining example of how to live a full and happy life.
George was preceded in death by his wife Elma, his parents, his sister Peggy, his brothers Raymond, Kirby, Chuck, Bobby, and Don. He is survived by his sister Charlet, his brothers Marty and Derrald, his son Charlie (Cindy) Beck, daughter Megan (John) McElroy, grandchildren Brandi Scimone, Martin Beck, Megan Matzke, Carly, Quinn, and Tess McElroy and great grand-children Peyton, Jeffrey, and Caleb Matzke.
The family would like to thank Rick Suarez for being George’s good friend and caregiver for the last 7 years.
A memorial service to honor George will be held on Saturday November 30th at 11 a.m. at the Los Angeles Police Academy.
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Fax: (626) 285-1461 - email: info@larfpa.com