John & Beverly Bidwell
What do you remember about John & Beverly? Share your stories and photos here, and invite others to come share their memories.
Beverly and John Bidwell died a week apart at Westminster Health & Rehab Center in Rock Hill, SC.
John Richard Bidwell ("Burch"), 91, died December 22, 2020 and Beverly Parsons Bidwell, nee Bales, 91, died December 27, 2020. John and Beverly were married in August 1951. They celebrated their 69th anniversary in August 2020. John was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on August 8, 1929 and was raised on his grandparents', Everett and Pearl Ash, farm in Riceville, PA. Both John and Beverly graduated from Slippery Rock State Teacher's College (now Slippery Rock University), Beverly in 1951 and John in 1952. John and Beverly settled in Bethel Park, PA after John's service in the Army. They raised their family and was involved in the community there. John was employed by Duquesne Light Co. for 32 years in positions of increasing responsibilities. He served as a vestry member of St. David's Episcopal Church in Peters Township, PA, managed Little League baseball teams in Bethel Park, PA and volunteered in the Big Brother program in Pittsburgh. Beverly taught kindergarten in Peters Township, first at St. David's Episcopal and then at Pleasant Valley Elementary school. Upon John's retirement, they moved to Fripp Island, SC where they lived for 16 years. They were active in the community and John volunteered for many organizations, including the Volunteer Fire Dept., hospice services, St. Helena Elementary School, IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance, and Habitat for Humanity. When it was time to move inland, they moved to Rock Hill, SC, where they lived for the past 14 years. John worked as a volunteer with the utilities assistance program in Rock Hill. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels through the York County Council on Aging. John and Beverly travelled extensively through the US and Europe. They both were avid golfers and voracious readers. Beverly loved growing and decorating with flowers. She also sewed and did needlework. She was a hostess who loved to welcome guests to their home. John was preceded in death by his brother Bob Bidwell and Beverly by her brother George Bales.
They are survived by their children, Daniel Bidwell of Rock Hill, SC, Jill McCauslin of Stow, OH, and Joyce Hutchinson of Rowland Heights, CA, grandsons, Eric Hutchinson and Nick McCauslin (Mary), and great-granddaughters Emily and Abigail. A memorial service for both John and Beverly Bidwell will be held at 2:00 PM on January 23, 2021 at Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home, 700 Heckle Blvd, Rock Hill, SC 29730. The service will be streamed and saved on the Palmetto Funeral Group Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Meals on Wheels through the York County Council on Aging (yccoa.com) or to the York County Library (yclibrary.org/support-the-library).