Obituaries in Eugene, OR | Eugene Register-Guard (2024)

February 15, 1928 - May 28, 2024William Arthur Beckett (age 96) passed peacefully in his home with family and a caregiver by his side. He joins his wife of 68 years, Alice, into eternal rest.

“Billy,” was the son* of Arthur Selim Beckett, an Englishman, and Marguerite (Hruba) Beckett from Germany. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan during the Great Depression and the recovery that followed. After losing his mother at age 8 to breast cancer, his maternal Aunt Gertrude (Trudy), who had been a servant for a prominent Detroit family, took over motherly duties.

Graduating from Eastern High School in 1945 at age 17, Beckett enlisted in the U.S. Army. Starting with inactive service by attending the University of Illinois and Minnesota’s specialized training reserve program in engineering and language, he learned to speak, read, and write Japanese. He was then assigned to Ft. Bliss in Texas for soldier and anti-aircraft training. Next, he served in the Philippines as a Finance Technical Clerk in the finance disbursem*nt section.

Using his GI Bill he attended the University of Michigan where he met his wife Alice (Coddington). While working, studying, marrying, and becoming a father of two, (Mary Elizabeth “Betsy”, and Margaret Alice), he earned his B.A. and L.L.B. graduating from the U of M Law School by 1953. After passing his bar exam, he continued to do research at the university and briefly assisted in a private practice.

In 1954, the family of four moved to Eugene, Oregon where he worked at the Bureau of Municipal Research and Service primarily revising ordinances for many cities. In 1955, his father and aunt moved to Eugene to be close to Bill and his family. Bill and Alice then welcomed their third daughter (Lydia Ann). His father passed away the following year. In 1957 his Aunt Trudy lived on one side of a duplex and the family lived on the other side as they welcomed their fourth child, a son (Arthur Howard).

Although Beckett’s name was not among the recommended names provided by the Lane County Bar Association, Oregon Governor Robert Holmes appointed him to the 2nd District Judge position in 1957. In 1958 he had to run for the position he currently held. The Voters Pamphlet of that election states: Judge Beckett won the Lane County Lawyers 1958 preferential poll.

He is married with four children. Veteran. He is a member of the Lane County, Oregon, and Michigan Bar Associations. He is a deacon of the First Congregational Church. He is a member of the Eugene Jaycees, Eagles, Civitan, United Nations Association, Gavel Club, YMCA Youth and Government Committee, and the Eugene VLT (Very Little Theatre). He won that election, and over the next two years welcomed two more girls to the family (Laura Ellen and Sarah Joanne).

One of William Beckett’s accomplishments in his early years in Eugene was a two-year project of revising Oregon’s penalty structure. He had noticed inconsistencies that were likely developed piecemeal by the legislature. His project was published in a two- volume Oregon Law Review publication dated December 1960 and February 1961 by the University of Oregon. William Beckett maintained his position as a District Court Judge for another 17 years.

During those years he could be seen poolside at swimming and diving meets for his children, jogging the track across the street from the “Y” or running along the streets of Eugene. Other passions included golf, handball, and bowling in a league with his wife. Every summer during the month of August, the family would vacation for two weeks traveling by car to destinations such as Michigan, Southern California, Utah/Nevada, Colorado, and British Columbia. Camping along the way made for the opportunity for him to tell his scary ghost stories.

Although he ran for a county Circuit Court Judge position in 1972 and was defeated, he still held his District Court standing. Beckett was appointed to the Lane County Circuit Court by Oregon Governor Robert Straub in 1975. At that time he was a moderator for the First Congregational Church, and president of the board at the Central Lane Y. He remained a Lane County Circuit Court judge until he retired in 1993. After his “retirement,” he fulfilled his pro tem service obligation by sitting in on cases throughout the state of Oregon until November of 1995 - actually exceeding the recommended days of service.

In his retirement, William and Alice enjoyed traveling, restaurants, movies, and flea markets. He became an avid stamp collector and a voracious reader.

*In 2015, his two youngest daughters convinced him to take an Ancestry DNA test to help identify his biological parents. His adoptive parents never told him he was adopted - although he had his suspicions. It was later revealed that indeed he had been. His aunt Trudy had only a little information regarding his adoption. After testing and four months of research by Sarah, it was determined that Ross Lynn of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Marie Rose Rudnick of North Dakota (born of German immigrants) were his biological parents. Sadly, his mother Marie passed away in January 1930, three months after giving birth to his younger brother in October 1929. They were living in Muskegon, Michigan at the time. After Marie’s passing a daughter of Marie’s (half-sister to Bill) and Ross and Marie’s infant son (full brother to Bill), were adopted out to the Cooper family. Ross tried to keep “Tommy” (Thomas E Lynn was his name at birth) by moving to Detroit to live with his mother and stepfather. Only Ross’ sister was working at the time (Great Depression) and his mother became ill, so Ross was compelled to leave his son at an orphanage where he was adopted by the Becketts. Beckett never knew about his father, full brother, and half-sister, but they knew of him, and their efforts to connect proved futile. After discovering the identities of his biological family, interesting parallels surfaced; his parents married Feb 3rd, 1927. He and Alice married Feb 3rd, 1950. His brother and wife married Mar 3, 1950 and they too had five girls and one boy.

William Arthur Beckett was predeceased by his adoptive parents and his biological parents mentioned above, along with his half-sister Kathleen (Rudnick/Lynn/Lee) and a full brother, Jack Cooper (born Clifford A Lynn). He is survived by daughters Betsy, Margaret, Lydia, Laura, and Sarah and his son Arthur, many grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Greenhill Humane Society or The Breast Cancer Research Center.