Ralph Vanleon Beard
Born: December 8th, 1889
Died: February 27th, 1957
Obituary
Dr. Ralph Van Loon Beard, 67, 2525 Mt. Pleasant St. local veterinarian, died at his home at 9:45 pm Wednesday.
He was born in Wapello, Dec. 8, 1889, the son of Jacob and Clara Van Loon Beard, and lived in Burlington for the past 59 years.
He married the former Jessie Huffington, who died and he later married the former Vivian Rutherford in West Des Moines.
He was a member of the Congregational church.
A graduate of Kansas City Veterinary school, Dr. Beard began practice at West Branch after being discharged from the Army following WWI. He established a veterinary practice in Burlington in 1934.
He was a member of the American Veterinary Medical association Eastern Iowa Veterinary Association, American Legion, and Des Moines County Riding club.
Surviving are His wife, a daughter, Mrs. Ethel Mae Lasky, Fargo, ND, a brother, Frank J. Beard, Burlington a granddaughter, two nephews, and a niece.
Services will be held at Prugh’s chapel at 2:00 pm. Rev. Bruce Masselink will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends in Prugh’s Chapel, Friday evening from 7 until 9 o’clock. Rather than send flowers, friends may contribute to the RV Beard Student Loan Fund of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary.