Phyllis J. Beck

Phyllis Lauver Beck, 89, died of cancer on Saturday, January 24, while under hospice home care at her Greencroft Manor 4 residence.

Phyllis was born in Lititz, Pennsylvania, on June 3, 1936, to Marlin and Mabel Hess Lauver. She lived in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, during her youth, while her father worked at the Mennonite Publishing House.

She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1954, and from Goshen College in 1959, with a degree in English education. She took courses toward a master’s degree in library science at Indiana University, Bloomington.

She married Ervin Beck, Jr., of Pettisville, Ohio, on December19, 1959. Their son Joel Edward was born in 1964 and their daughter Sarah, in 1970. To their constant sorrow, both children died of leukemia, Joel in 1973 and Sarah in 1985.

Their other children are twins, William Beck and Clarissa (Randy) Shipley. They survive, as do grandchildren Shadow (Aaron) Tooley, and Joel (Dainelle) Shipley, and four great-granddaughters: Athalia and Nylie Aguilar, and Mya and Willow Foster. Their grandson Nathan Foster was killed in an auto accident in 2023.

Her siblings Marcus Lauver of Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Hesston (Jean Schrag) of Goshen also survive. Her nephews are Brian Lauver in North Dakota, Duane (Jody) Lauver in Arizona and Jason (Jamie) Lauver in Goshen

Phyllis taught English at Jefferson High School (1959-61) and Fairfield High school (1967-69), where she organized the consolidated school’s first library. From 1961-64 she taught, with her husband, at Teheran International School in Iran, with the Presbyterian Church. It was a life-changing experience.

Later, she accompanied her husband on teaching and research assignments in Belize City, Belize; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Sheffield, Coventry, and London England, often volunteering in academic libraries. She especially enjoyed their several summer residences in Oxford, England.

From 1965 until retirement, she was a reference librarian at the Goshen Public Library, beginning when it was still in the Carnegie building. She relished her contacts with fellow librarians and library patrons.

Phyllis, a voracious reader, enjoyed her book club and also a small group of friends who met regularly through many years. She was a woman of good taste, modest needs, and deep, quiet faith. She loved the small details of life—a good book, house plant, recipe, flower, family heirloom.

Since 1955 she attended College Mennonite Church, where a memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10 a.m in the sanctuary. Visitation will be in the church Gathering Room from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026. Yoder-Culp Funeral Home are assisting with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be designated for the Goshen Public Library or the Jubilee Fund at College Mennonite Church.