of Little Rock, AR

January 21, 1928 - April 9, 2025

LTC (Ret) Ludwig A. Beckman III, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the age of 97. Funeral services will be 10:00am on Monday, April 28, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma, officiated by his niece, the Rev Dr. Lynn Miller, of Gaffney, South Carolina. Burial, with military honors, will be held at Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Oklahoma following the service.

Lud was born on January 21, 1928, in Weir, Mississippi to the Rev. Ludwig Beckman Jr. and Velma Thompson Beckman. He graduated from Collins (Mississippi) High School in 1945 and was president of his senior class and captain of the football team. He served in the U.S. Navy from January 1946 to December 1947, with the rank of Radarman Third Class.

In May 1951, he graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in accounting and a commission in the U.S. Army. He served in the Artillery, Aviation and Finance Corps, with combat tours in Korea and Vietnam, as well as postings in Newfoundland, Italy and numerous stateside assignments. Among his many awards, he received the Bronze Star, WW II Victory Medal, Korean and Vietnam Service Medals. He was the Finance Officer at Fort Sill, OK, when he retired in June 1970. Lud then attended Cameron University, obtaining a degree in Elementary Education and taught at Woodland Hills Elementary School from 1971 to 1988.

During his years in Lawton, he was an involved member of First United Methodist Church, serving in numerous capacities including as a Sunday School Teacher. He delivered Mobile Meals and was also a volunteer at Comanche County Memorial Hospital for 11 years. He was a member of the Retired Educators Association and Lawton Masonic Lodge 183.

Lud married Marjorie Ellen Stevenson of Lawton, on 3 June 1955, and they were happily married until her death on November 15, 1986. On 8 February 2001, Lud married Geneva (Neva) Duke, also of Lawton. In August 2016, Lud and Neva moved to Parkway Village, Little Rock, Arkansas to be closer to Neva's family, and there they enjoyed many happy years.

Lud is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Carolyn Waltman and Dorthy (Dot) Clegg, his wives, Marjorie Beckman and Neva Beckman and his eldest son, John Armstrong Beckman.

Survivors include his younger son, COL (Ret) Steven Beckman and wife Kathleen of Alexandria, Virginia, his sister, Peggy Beckman Miller of Gaffney, South Carolina, his daughter-in-Law, Bamah Beckman, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, his stepchildren, Mike Duke (Valorie) and Nancy Moore, of Little Rock, Arkansas. He is also survived by five beloved grandchildren, Tabitha Beckman (Krithi), of Albany, New York, Aubree Beckman, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Major Steven Beckman Jr. (Britany), of Detroit, Michigan, Major Sean Beckman (Kathryn), of Landstuhl, Germany and Erin Beckman (Matthew), of Garmisch, Germany, in addition to five great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Foundation, Lawton, Oklahoma, the John Armstrong Beckman Endowed Scholarship in Social Sciences at Cameron University, or a charity of their choice.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com