Beatrice Irene Koah

Beatrice Irene Koah, 92, a 12-year resident of Eau Claire, entered into Eternal Life from Dove Healthcare - West on Friday, October 20, 2017, following a brief illness. She was born on January 23, 1925, in Philadelphia, PA. the second daughter of Earl and Hazel (Airgood) Jones. She lived most of her life in various communities in South Jersey, and graduated with the Merchantville High School class of 1943. She was a typical child of her time, hardworking and patriotic, who contributed to the War effort as an electronics inspector at RCA in Camden, NJ. Bea married Kenneth C. Koah, an Army veteran and commercial artist employed by Vertol Aircraft Corporation. For a time, they lived in Middletown, PA. and raised two children, Patricia and Mark. Bea was an independent person with numerous and varied work experiences, ranging from elevator operator at Strawbridge and Clothier, a major Philadelphia department store, to proof reader at the Curtis Publishing Co., then owners of the Saturday Evening Post, the American Home, and the Ladies’ Home Journal, which were some of the nation’s most popular periodicals. After Curtis shut down in 1969, Bea brought her skills to Pepper Hamilton, a large Philadelphia law firm, from which she retired. In addition, Bea was an active volunteer at her children’s schools through the PTA and playground programs. Bea was a longtime, active member of the Calvary Community Baptist Church, Pennsauken, NJ, where she served in the diaconate, choir, and as an auxiliary representative/secretary to the Baptist Home, Riverton, NJ, tending the elderly. After the death of her son Mark in 2005, she moved to Eau Claire to be near her immediate family. Her life could best be understood as unpretentious and direct. She was a true Jersey Girl. Her main interests and recreation were her books, her church, and above all, her family. She rode the bus or walked and was content to do so. She was also surprisingly well informed. Until her sight failed her, she was a voracious reader. Bea loved to join her sisters, sing the old songs, and reminisce about their childhood. Her distinctive laugh, loud and cackling, will always be remembered by her family. Bea is survived by her daughter, Patricia (Gregory) Russell of Eau Claire; three grandchildren, Gregory (Jessica) Russell, Christopher (Charity) Russell, and Kristan Russell, all of Eau Claire; three great-grandchildren, Dylan Russell of Eau Claire, Emily Russell of Minneapolis, and Lillian Russell of Eau Claire; two sisters, Evelyn (Charles) Haddon of Annandale, VA, and Janet (John) Croft of Medford, NJ; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bea will be especially remembered by her special friend, Betty Collings, of Pennsauken, and her pet cat, Sheba. She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Kenneth; son, Mark; and sister, Dorothy Goldsmith. A memorial service to celebrate Bea’s life will take place at 11:00 am on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. in Eau Claire, with Chaplain Matty Strickler officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday, at the funeral home.

Service Information

Visitation

Monday, October 30 2017
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home
814 First Ave
Eau Claire WI 54703

Memorial Service

Monday, October 30 2017
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home
814 First Ave
Eau Claire WI 54703