Larry L. Beers, 85, of Wilmington, Delaware, formerly of Newark, Delaware, died on Thursday, October 25, 2018.
Larry was a graduate of the carpentry program at the Williamson College of the Trades, class of 1953. After graduating from Williamson, Larry worked in the Allentown and Delaware County, Pennsylvania, areas as a carpenter, carpenter foreman, job superintendent, and independent contractor. During this time, he also earned his teaching certificate from Temple University and began to transition from full-time carpentry to teaching. He first taught at Glen Mills Schools in Thornbury, Pennsylvania, then at the Folcroft Vocational-Technical School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and finally at Delcastle High School in Wilmington, Delaware. He retired from Delcastle in 1990.
While at Delcastle, Larry was twice recognized as teacher of the year and earned the highest grade in a four-state competency test at Rutgers University. Students from his carpentry shop were highly accomplished as well, winning Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) contests on 69 occasions, including one national award. Larry’s dedication to teaching carpentry went beyond the high school audience and included teaching an evening adult apprentice program for 18 years and the production of a video tape series of his lessons that were sold nationally.
During most of his retirement, Larry remained active with a wide range of cabinet making and other carpentry projects, as well as carpentry demonstrations to Williamson freshmen and members of the Delaware Woodworkers Guild. When he was not wearing his trademark carpenter’s white coveralls around the shop, Larry was touring the United States on his motorcycle with a group of retired friends or visiting his children and grandchildren.
Larry is survived by his brother Terry Beers (Linda) of Slatington, Pennsylvania and sister Jean Bomba of Bowmanstown, Pennsylvania. He was the father of Eric (Kay), Blacksburg, Virginia, Amy, and Kurt (Lisa) Beers, and Wendy Crawford (David), Wilmington, Delaware, grandfather of Sayward Perregrino, Mary, Walter (Scheherazade), Martin, Ingrid, Caleb, and Matthew Beers, and Kelly, Katrina, Clair, and Jack Crawford, and great-grandfather of Aubrey Crawford, and Joshua and Shane Perregrino.
Visitation is from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursday November 1, 2018 at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, with a memorial service following at 6:00 pm.
Friends and family may make memorial contributions to the Williamson Fund at the Williamson College of the Trades, 106 S. New Middletown Rd. Media, PA 19063.
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