BEATRICE K. BALKCUM
March 1, 1927-April 10, 2016
Beatrice K. Balkcum died April 10, 2016, of complications from a stroke suffered on Easter morning. She was 89.
Bea was born March 1, 1927, in Greene County, N.C., to Winnie H. and George S. Kearney.
After high school, she moved to downtown Goldsboro, N.C., where she worked while taking classes at East Carolina Teachers College, now East Carolina University.
In the late 1940s, she was hired by WGBR radio, and it was there that she met "Goldsboro's most eligible bachelor," Vassie Balkcum. He was smitten. Bea and Vassie married on Thanksgiving Day 1950, and made a life together as true partners.
Bea continued her studies, graduating from East Carolina in 1953, and began teaching sophomore English at Goldsboro High School.
The couple soon started a family with daughter, Vicki, followed by daughter, Kimberly.
For the next 15 years, Bea taught English at Goldsboro High School.
After earning a master's degree at North Carolina State in counseling, Bea became a guidance counselor at Goldsboro High, and served as student government advisor, a role she thoroughly enjoyed.
In 1968, after completing additional hours of graduate study in English at North Carolina State, Bea returned to the classroom as a member of the faculty at Wayne Community College. She taught English composition, American and British literature and public speaking, while also serving as head of the liberal arts department.
In 1984, she was promoted to director of the general studies division at Wayne Community College.
She retired from Wayne Community College in 1989 after 20 years of dedicated service, but her educational career didn't end then. Shortly after retirement, Bea was appointed by Gov. James G. Martin to the Wayne Community College board of trustees. She was appointed to a second term in 1994 by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., and also served as board chairman.
Bea was never too busy with work to tend to her home and family. She sewed clothes for her girls, made Christmas stockings for the family, crocheted scarves and throws and made needlepoint cushions for her antique dining chairs. She combed antique stores for other unique furnishings for her home.
The Balkcums always spent at least one week each year at the beach. They owned a condominium at Atlantic Beach, N.C., in the late 1970s and 1980s, where Bea spent many hours collecting and preserving seashells.
Bea's interests also included feeding and observing birds; arranging flowers, berries and greenery from her yard; baking bread and sweets; making cucumber and green tomato pickles; and reading mysteries.
Bea was athletic in her younger years, playing on the Goldsboro High faculty basketball team and later, taking up golf.
Bea and Vassie loved to entertain in their home. Over the years, they hosted Goldsboro High student government gatherings, bridge clubs, WGBR-WEQR staff parties and holiday celebrations ranging from casual Fourth of July cookouts to elaborate Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. No one set a more elegant table than Bea.
After retirement, Bea actively pursued her lifelong love of bridge by competing in tournaments in North and South Carolina and Virginia. She earned a life master ranking, and continued playing until a few years before her death.
Bea moved to The Oaks at Whitaker Glen in August 2013 to be near her daughters in Raleigh. There she made a remarkable life for herself. With the support of her caregivers and new friends, she enjoyed each day to the fullest, participating in social activities until the final weeks of her life.
Along with her parents and her devoted husband of 60 years, Vassie Balkcum, Bea was preceded in death by brothers, Edgar, Douglas, Pete, Wayne and Preston Kearney, and by sister, Lula Kearney Vandiford.
She is survived by daughters, Vicki Balkcum and husband, Tim Rae, and by daughter, Kimberly Balkcum; by sisters, Dolly Kearney Mackvick, Doris Kearney Loy and Faye Kearney Phillips; and by brothers, James and Kenneth Kearney.
The family extends eternal gratitude to caregivers, Bonita Randolph, Lina Oates, Muriel Wilson and Ami Gaye in Raleigh.
We deeply appreciate the compassionate care of Dr. James Parsons, who was so attentive to our mom in Raleigh.
And we will never forget the residents of third-floor building B at Whitaker Glen, home of the jigsaw puzzle table and the knitting circle, as well as the welcoming community of friends and staff at Whitaker Glen.
A celebration of Bea's life will take place at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Goldsboro Saturday, April 16, at 2 p.m., with prior visitation in the church parlor at 1 p.m. A private entombment service for family will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 15, in Wayne Memorial Park mausoleum chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church or the Foundation of Wayne Community College.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on April 13, 2016 1:49 PM