Charles Hayden Beard

Charles Hayden Beard, 83, of Weatherford, Texas, was welcomed by his savior Jesus Christ, into the fields of Heaven on April 17, 2020, as he succumbed to a rapidly progressive illness, leaving here on Earth, family and friends that are devastated. 

Mr. Beard was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Laurie; and sister, Molly Johnston and is survived by his wife, Sally Beard; his son, Chuck Beard and his wife, Melinda; granddaughters, Lauren and Katie; and his twin brothers, Kay and David Beard; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Due to current family medical conditions with restrictions and current social distancing requirements, the family is not prepared to have visitors at this time.

Mr. Beard will be laid to rest in a private graveside service on Friday, April 24, 2020, at Greenwood Cemetery, in Weatherford. As such, there is no need for flowers or other such outreach. All are encouraged to direct any remembrances to Shriner's Hospitals for Children or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Charles was born in the family home located in Springtown, Texas, on March 8, 1937. He was the oldest of four children born to his parents, Walter Prewett Beard and Helen Louise Warn Beard.

Charles married Sally Ann Colgin and spent 58 years building a life with their two children, Laurie and Chuck Beard.

The young Charles wore many hats - he was the youngest person to receive his Texas Chauffeur's license at the age of 13.

Charles worked at Fort Wolters where he was recognized multiple times for his designs and innovations that not only improved the water treatment plant but saved the U.S. Department of the Army hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

He worked as an ambulance driver, was a county Fire Marshal, and as a salesman for Harris and Motorola, all while building his first company, CSSI.

He built CSSI into the 6th largest PCP paging company in the world. He designed the first two-way system for Parker County. He built the Southern Pacific Railroad radio system as well as the single sideband system for Brown and Root, the largest fleet ships in the world. He maintained Parkland Hospital’s Paging System and the Carswell Air Force Base’s Radio System for many years.

Internationally, he designed and sold systems to the President of Mexico, the Prince of Kuwait, the Nigerian Government and the Egyptian Secret Service. In 1996, he tried his hand at terrestrial radio. He bought Weatherford’s radio station, KZEE (you may have even heard his reporting live “from the scene” an expanded multi-station network which remains broadcasting today.

As much as he enjoyed his work, he always found time for family and his community. He enjoyed politics, gardening, wood-working, and photography but mostly his granddaughters. Nothing brought him as much joy as his two “partners in crime.” Never missing a second, he enjoyed every aspect of being a grandparent and could not have been prouder of his girls. “Poppy” will be forever missed as the world continues to turn.