Charles William "Bill" Beaven

HAMPTON - Dr. Charles William 'Bill' Beaven, 95, passed away Monday, March 26, 2007, one day after his 95th birthday. Born and raised in Evergreen, Ala., he received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his medical degree from Vanderbilt University where he served his internship and assistant residency in pediatrics. He served as Captain in the U.S. Army and was stationed in England at the close of the war. After his discharge he took post-graduate work in pediatrics and juvenile diabetes at St. Louis Children's' Hospital. Dr. Beaven moved to Hampton in 1947 where he and Dr. Paul Hogg co-founded the Children's Clinic in Newport News. At the Children's Clinic he practiced general pediatrics and specialized in pediatric diabetes for 37 years until his retirement in 1984. In many cases Dr. Beaven cared for two and three generations of children within many families in this community. Dr. Beaven was a member of the Tri-X Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church - Fox Hill and the Hampton Yacht Club, where he served as 'Fleet Surgeon' for many years. Bill Beaven was a genuine 'people person.' He will always be fondly remembered for his perpetually upbeat outlook on life. He was an avid fisherman, sailor and all 'round boatsman, preferring to mess about with boats on or around water whenever he could. He was an equally avid dancer and kept us all on our toes on the dance floor. He was a life-long firm believer in the power of positive thinking, and his inquisitive nature kept him engrossed in topics of personal and professional interest through to the end of his life. He possessed an innovative and inquisitive spirit which led him to develop various gadgets from special instrumentation to safely remove foreign objects from the esophagus of infants to a toy gun that shoots rubber bands, and a floating key chain for fishermen, among others. Preceded in death by his loving wife, Diane L. Beaven, and his daughters, Susan B. Rutter and Betsey Elise Beaven, he is survived by his daughters, Nancy Beaven, Tina Beaven, Lee Beaven, and Beth Beaven; his former wife, Mary J. Beaven; and his stepchildren, Bill Naramore, Bob Naramore and Becky Hoback; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two nieces and a nephew. The family extends special thanks to Dr. Chris Bosworth, Dr. John Hogg, Dr. Watts Booth and the caring staff of the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home and to Ms. Brenda Kelley, and Ms. Crystal Scott and the other home care professionals for their extraordinary care and compassion. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in downtown Hampton. A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church - Fox Hill by the Rev. W. Michael Nobles. Family will receive friends following the service at Hampton Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Susan Beaven Rutter Art Fund at First United Methodist Church – Fox Hill, Hampton, VA or Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk, VA. Arrangements are by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave. in downtown Hampton, 723-3191.

Published in the Daily Press from 3/28/2007 - 3/29/2007.
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