Walter Franklin Beasley

Walter Franklin Beasley was an original renaissance man who spoke French, loved family, making friends, big city Big Band Jazz music, and had a reputation as an advent “case carrying pool -shooting chess player”. His expertise won him several trophies. He was affectionately referred to by friends as Beaze or Walt, by family as dad, daddy, granddad, uncle Walter, and Boo. He departed this life on March 11, 2017 at the gracious age of 95 and after years of displaying bravery and wisdom during years of battling and recovering from various illnesses.

He was born March 1, 1922 to Katherine Franklin Beasley (deceased) and Irwin Luke Beasley (deceased) in the Lincoln Larimer section of Pittsburgh. He was the second oldest of three children his brother Charles and sister Roberta (deceased). Despite growing up during the great depression his parents made ends meet. He attended Lincoln school and left after the eighth grade to help care for his mother who died from breast cancer. On Palm Sunday 1934 he was confirmed at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Homewood where his mother attended. He also attended the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church with his father. At the age of 16 Walter married Wanda Loving (deceased) and from that union had four children, son Walter Franklin Beasley Jr. (still born), son Wayne Beasley (deceased), son Irwin James Beasley (deceased), and daughter Wanda Beasley -Tarrant (deceased).

In December, 1943 during World War II, Walter enlisted in a segregated United States Army where he was stationed with a Negro platoon in Germany, and fought bravely in the historic “Battle of the Bulge” where he was part of the Negro troops who were first to arrive at the Auschwitz concentration camp to release the Jews.

Walter was a gentleman who displayed class and grace as he traveled the world with his late son Wayne. He enjoyed people and life and lived by the credo…“Be ashamed to die unless you have scored some victory for humanity”. As an aspiring artist he loved to draw and write in his journals. Walter had broad life and experiences, from working in France at French horse stables to working for Chrysler in Detroit, to being a haberdasher (clothes salesman) for jazz great Woody Herman’s shop, where he met and learned to play chess from Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie.

Walter returned to Pittsburgh and started working for the City of Pittsburgh. In 1966, Walter being blessed of God, got a “second wind ” and he fell in love with and married Lucille Gibbs -Carter (deceased) and through that union they had a daughter , Carmen Beasley Jordan. Walter was a very compassionate, loving, affectionate and kind hearted person who loved not only people but animals also. He retired from the City of Pittsburgh as a foreman for the “rubbish” department. Years after retirement Walter and his wife Lucille worked together part -time for years at WQED Television (PBS affiliate) in the call center taking pledges by phone until their health would not allow them to work anymore. Walter leaves behind his daughter Carmen Jordan (Kevin), step son Allen V. Carter Jr. (Kathleen), brother Charles Beasley (Halena) deceased, brother in law John Hall Jr. (Myrtle) , Alexander Hall (Alice) 11 grandchildren, 17 great grand children 20 great - great grand children, (nieces and nephews grand and great grand), cousins and friends.