In Memoriam - Chuck Beardsley

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Published in Winston-Salem Journal from June 10 to June 11, 2010

BEARDSLEY WINSTON-SALEM - Charles Mitchell "Chuck" Beardsley died on the evening of Saturday, June 5, 2010 at his home in Salemtowne. He was born in Chicago, IL on January 13, 1921 to Richard Stanley and Maude Clarice Mitchell Beardsley. He graduated from Morgan Park High School and DePauw University with high honors and earned a Masters degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin. His studies were interrupted by World War II, during which time he served as a math instructor at the University of Wisconsin and then the University of South Carolina, teaching military recruits. Following this, he served as a radar officer in the U.S. Naval Air Force for three years. After the war, he returned to Wisconsin to finish his degree and start studying for his Actuarial Fellowship. Chuck took a position at the Paul Revere Insurance Company in Worcester, MA where he became Associate Actuary. He moved to Winston-Salem in 1955, where he was Actuary and Vice President of Security Life and Trust Company. In 1963, he became a consulting actuary with H.W. Satchwell and Company in Columbus, Ohio, serving as Senior Vice President and Director. He returned to Winston-Salem in 1968 as an actuarial consultant with Booke & Company, where he served as President, Director, and Chairman of the Board.

Each year for almost 50 years, Chuck wrote and published the 1000 page Life Company Annual Statement Handbook. This became such a standard in the industry that it was affectionately known as the "Beardsley Bible" to accountants, actuaries, and regulators throughout the country. Under the sponsorship of the Southeastern Actuaries Club of which he was a past president, Chuck conducted a number of seminars at Georgia State University for their actuarial students. This experience gave him the idea to start the "Booke Seminars" to serve the needs of practicing life insurance company executives responsible for the very complicated financial reports required by insurance regulations. At present, the "Booke Seminars" are a division of Aon Benfield and have served thousands of insurance professionals. In 2008, the American Council of Life Insurers awarded Chuck a loving cup as an "Insurance Legend" for his contributions to the industry.

Chuck loved music and he loved his church. He sang in the Home Moravian Church choir for 50 years and served on the church Board of Trustees. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Moravian Music Foundation and is a past president of the Wachovia Historical Society. Chuck was a charter member and a past president of the Twin City Kiwanis Club, a group that meant a great deal to him. Chuck was a very loving and devoted husband to his wife of 67 years, Marjorie Helen Gahan Beardsley, who survives him. He cherished time with his family his two daughters, Helen Charlene Beardsley Ewing and Karen Jeannette Beardsley Taylor, and their families, who all survive him. This includes his sons-in-law, Steven Ewing and Perry Lee Taylor, Jr., and grandchildren:
Sabrina Armour, Lora Kelly Shahine and husband, Omar, Perry Lee Taylor III and wife, Lisa, and Charles David Taylor. Chuck loved that he was a great-grandfather to Bobby and Steven Armour and Sarah Shahine and a great, great grandfather to Kira Armour. The Funeral will be Saturday, June 12 at 11 a.m. at Home Moravian Church with burial in God's Acre. The family will greet friends after the Service in the Church Parlor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home Moravian Church, Salemtowne, or Hospice and Palliative Care Center. The family wishes to express its gratitude to the nurses and staff of Salemtowne and to the nurses and staff of Hospice and Palliative Care Center for their tender care. Salem Funeral Home is assisting the Beardsley family. Online condolences may be made through http://www.salemfh.com.