Beechy, Winifred Nelson (1915-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Aug 11 p. 7

Birth date: 1915 Feb 10

text of obituary:

Author, peace advocate took message far and wide

GOSHEN, Ind. — An author and peace advocate, who with her husband took a message of reconciliation around the world, died July 20 at age 88.

Winifred Nelson Beechy of Goshen had been a schoolteacher and served as secretary for peace and social concerns for the Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries.

In 1982, she wrote the book, The New China. She also co-authored several other books and published numerous articles in periodicals.

Beechy was a member of the Mennonite World conference presidium from 1973 to 1984.

With her husband, Atlee, a Goshen College professor also active in peace work, Beechy traveled to China, Indonesia, Poland, India, Bangladesh, Ireland, South Africa, Vietnam and Kenya.

There, the Beechys did relief work and pursued reforms in international education and peace and justice, under the auspices of Mennonite Central Committee and Goshen College.

Beechy was a member of College Mennonite Church. She was a 1938 graduate of Goshen College and received a master's degree in peace studies from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1979.

Born Feb. 10, 1915, at White Cloud, Mich., the daughter of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth nelson, she married Atlee Beechy on May 24, 1941. He died Dec. 31, 2000.

Survivors include three daughters, Karen Kreider of Royersford, Pa., Judith Beechy of Goshen and Susan Enz of Bordentown, N. J.; a brother, Dwayne Nelson of For Collins, Colo.; six grandchildren and a great-grandson. A memorial service was held Aug. 2 at College Mennonite Church.