17045 COSBY MCBEATH, Jr.
8 January 1925-21 October 1999
Died in Denver, Colorado
Cremated and inurned in Yuma District Cemetery
Yuma, Colorado

COSBY MCBEATH, JR., died at the age of 74. He was born in the small Colorado town of Wray and raised in an even smaller town, Eckley. Due to his father's health, the McBeath family moved to Colorado from Monticello, KY, and spent many summers there with his mother's family. He learned to appreciate the open beauty of the plains and the lush foliage of the east. In 1952, Cosby graduated from Eckley High School as valedictorian and, during the next two years, attended the University of Colorado-Boulder. In July 1944, he entered the Academy.

After a stormy Beast Barracks, Cosby applied himself diligently but was found "deficient in studies," "turned back," and re- entered the Academy in June 1945-two Plebe years later. Yet Cosby had determination and character. Although swimming and German were not his forte, Cosby finally graduated in August 1949 and married Jane Ferguson in December.

After graduation, Cosby attended the Ground General School for five months at Ft. Riley and, later, attended the Armor School at Ft. Knox. He then served with the 24th Infantry Division in Korea, with its few tanks. Cosby was reassigned to the 19th Infantry and was in combat during 1950-52. In November 1950, he received a telegram announcing the birth of his first daughter, Marcia.

Upon his return to the States, Cosby was aide to the commanding general of the Armor School at Ft. Knox, where his son, Cameron, was born. During his years in service, he received several awards: three Air Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with one Silver Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the United Nations Service Medal.

In 1953, Cosby resigned his commission to work in the industrial world. He started at Standard Products in Lexington, KY, and Cleveland, OH. His second daughter, Margaret, was born during this time. In 1960, Corning Glass Works, Inc. employed him in Danville, KY, and, later, at the corporate headquarters in Corning, NY Throughout his 28-year career with Corning, he held positions in Engineering and Sales, and was a trouble-shooter in the automotive windshield and catalytic converter departments. He also traveled extensively and enjoyed taking the back roads instead of the major highways to see how the local people lived.

In 1984, Cosby and his daughter, Margaret, drove from New York to Colorado to attend his high school reunion. During that trip, Cosby realized he wanted to return to Colorado some day.

In 1988, Cosby returned to Eckley for another class reunion. There, he became reacquainted with his high school sweetheart, Isabelle Balderston Henik. They married in September 1990 and resided in Yuma, CO. With this marriage, he gained three stepchildren, Dennis, Gail, and John, and their children: Scott, Rachel, Hilary, and Eli. Before his second marriage, he lived in Denver with his future stepson, John, and they shared many business interests, fly-tying, and golf. John said, "Cosby was one of the few people who understood me and my projects. He was as close to me as any dad could be."

Cosby resumed his love of travel. He and Isabelle tried to take two overseas trips a year. Their travels took them to many exotic locales, including Russia, India, Finland, South Africa, and even a houseboat trip up the Mahakan River in Borneo, Indonesia. He tried to do as the natives would do, so it was not unusual for him to sleep on mats with five other people on the houseboat. During a long house performance at a village in Borneo, Cosby passed out. The clan witch doctor placed some type of magic spell on him and placed a special string of beads around his neck. Cosby "miraculously" regained consciousness, although a little weak. With no doctor around for miles, who knows what strange magic the witch doctor used on him. As a result of that experience, Cosby determined to bring a homemade doll or trinket from each of his travels for his two granddaughters, Megan and Erika of Franklin, MA. Cosby knew he would not be around to watch them grow up, so he wanted to leave them with memo-ries of him and his travels. One such gift was a 25-pound wooden hippopotamus he carted home from South Africa in a gym bag.

Cosby was a very quiet but sentimental man. West Point peer Harry J. Maihafer describes Cosby as "a soft spoken, competent, sincere guy, who was extremely likeable." He loved to hit a few golf balls, play a little bridge, watch the financial report on TV, tinker with his tools, and read. When he wanted information, Cosby researched it at the library and the librarian used his suggestions to order financial books. His opinion was so highly regarded that the library in Yuma honored him with a memorial. He was an avid member of the Presbyterian church while growing up in Eckley and transferred his membership to Yuma in later years. His family and friends will miss Cosby.
 
 




Personal Eulogy

COSBY
Class Website
1949 TAPS
Contact The Class
ADMIN
Return Home