Mary (Lotz) Beck

Mary Frances Beck (nee Lotz), 84, of Newtown Square, PA, formerly of Havertown, passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

She was the wife of the late Leonard Beck and the daughter of the late Francis and Betty (nee Hewlett) Lotz.

She is survived by her children, Richard (Robert Sher) Beck, James Beck, and Robert (Denise Meli) Beck; grandchildren, Megan Beck, Emma Beck, Connor Beck, and Wyatt Beck; and siblings, William (Betsy) Lotz and Christine (Michael) Whitelonis.

Mary, a civil engineering graduate of Drexel University, met her future husband when she was an engineering co-op student working at the federal Soil Conservation Service; they had been married for over 61 years.

While raising three young children at home, Mary continued her education by earning a civil engineering master’s degree in soils at Drexel and another civil engineering master’s degree in hydraulics at Villanova University. The majority of her professional career was spent working as an environmental engineer at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

In early retirement Mary worked part-time as a tax advisor for H&R Block. For many years she and her husband took annual long distance train trips visiting family in Chicago, California and Houston, as well as tours by train throughout Europe.

For nearly 40 years Mary and her husband attended St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Llanerch where she helped organize many of the pancake breakfast fundraisers as well as various social events. Later they attended St. James United Church of Christ in Havertown.

Mary loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. She was an avid baker and enjoyed reading, sewing, counted cross stitch and ceramics. She loved animals and had many dogs and cats over the years.

Mary Beck, you will be missed, loved, and remembered fondly.

Visitation: Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 10:00-10:45 am, at St. James United Church of Christ, located at 135 Myrtle Avenue, Havertown, PA 19083.

Funeral Service: Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 am, at St. James United Church of Christ.

Burial: Private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. James United Church of Christ Food Pantry (contact church office at 610-446-3036 or secretary@stjamesucc.org).