Beecroft/Becraft Ancestors

Walter C Becraft and Catherine Ryan

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Husband Walter C Becraft [13775]

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           Born: 4 Feb 1934
     Christened: 
           Died: 23 Jul 1962
 Cause of Death: gasoline explosion
         Buried:  - Saint Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt, Onondaga Co, NY
FamilySearch ID: GQP9-QQT
Find A Grave ID: 237926126

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         Father: Clinton C Becraft [2799] (1907-1970) 1
         Mother: Thelma Arlene Gambell [2800] (1912-1996)

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       Marriage: 

Events

• His obituary was published in The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY on 24 Jul 1962. Gasoline Tank Truck Explosion Kills Welder
Man in Office Hurt as Blast Rips Garage
A welder was killed yesterday when his acetylene torch apparently set off an explosion in an empty gasoline tank truck in a service garage at Thompson road and Burnet avenue.

Walter C. Becraft, 28, of 117 Cheney St., died instantly sheriff's deputies said, as the force of the explosion ripped away the rear of the 5,000-gallon gasoline trailer shortly after 11 a.m.

Several men working in the garage, operated by the Trailmobile Sales and Service Co., were thrown by the blast. One man was taken to University Hospital for injuries received when a light fixture in a small office several hundred feet away fell on his head. The blast shattered 85 windows, broke 18 lights, and opened huge cracks in the ceiling as it ripped through the building.

Richard E. Seyer of 504 Wolf St., service manager, said the gasoline trailer was steam cleaned for 24 hours, beginning last Friday.

Possible Cause
There was no immediate official explanation for the explosion, but Seyer told deputies, they said, that gasoline fumes may be remained in a seam of the trailer after the steam treatment.

Deputies said Becraft had already worked on one section of the rear of the trailer and was welding on the center section of the rear panel when the blast occurred.

A small hole appeared in the roof of the building directly above the gasoline truck, apparently where a cap on top of the tank truck was buried by the explosion.

Bright Flash
There were no witnesses to the actual explosion ,but those standing nearby doing other work on trailers reported a bright flash followed by concussion which threw one man 20 feet to a wall and knocked several others down.

The end of the gasoline trailer where Becraft was working was several feet away from the front end of a cargo trailer, which was pushed four feet by the blast. The front of the cargo trailer also was blown in.

Thomas Grover, 44, of 211 Ashworth Place, was taken to the hospital and treated for head injuries when the fluorescent light fixture fell on his head.

Services Tomorrow
The rear of the gasoline trailer resembled a huge folded circle as it lay on the floor. The force of the blast twisted the tip of the torch Becraft was using.

Services for Mr. Becraft will be at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the John G. Butler Funeral Home, 2104 S. Salina St.

Mr. Becraft was a native of Syracuse. He was a veteran of the Korean War and had been employed by the Trailmobile Co. five years.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Catherine Becraft; two sons, Walter C. Becraft Jr. and William C. Becraft; two daughters, Pamela Becraft and Adele Becraft; his father, Clinton Becraft; his mother, Mrs. Robert Edick; a brother, George A. Becraft, and several aunts and uncles.

Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

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Wife Catherine Ryan [13776]

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           Born: 15 Sep 1935
     Christened: 
           Died: 3 Jun 1988
         Buried:  - Saint Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt, Onondaga Co, NY
FamilySearch ID: PWN7-BBL
Find A Grave ID: 237926643

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Children

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1 M Walter C Becraft Sr [13770] (details suppressed for this person)

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Anita L Zumpano [13771] (living)

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2 M William C Becraft [17113] (details suppressed for this person)

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 F Pamela Becraft [17114] (details suppressed for this person)

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

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4 F Adele Becraft [17115] (details suppressed for this person)

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Burial Notes: Husband - Walter C Becraft

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Sec 88 Lot 243 Space 2A

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Burial Notes: Wife - Catherine Ryan

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Sec 88 Lot 243 Space 1A

Sources

1 Joanne Murray (lajkam@gmail.com), The Becraft Family of Morehouse (http://hamilton.nygenweb.net/bios/Becraft1.html).