Perry Edward Beeson, longtime community dentist

Perry Edward Beeson, 89, passed away on his family’s ranch on
March 5, 2005. He was a fourth generation resident of Healdsburg.
Perry was born on July 31, 1915, in Healdsburg to parents Edward
and Bera Beeson. He grew up on his grandfather’s ranch located in
Dry Creek Valley, between Felta Creek and Mill Creek, later moving
to Matheson Street in 1927. He attended local schools through high
school, and later graduated from the University of California at
Berkeley in 1937 with a degree in Economics. At Berkeley Perry was
a member of the crew team, the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, and the
Navy ROTC. After graduation Perry attended dental school at the
University of California, San Francisco, and was a member of the Xi
Psi Phi dental fraternity. When he graduated in 1941, he married
Barbara Marion Schuessler. At that time Perry had a commission as
an Ensign in the United States Navy and had orders to active duty.
During World War II, Perry’s orders took Barbara and him to Corpus
Christi, Texas; La Jolla; and Miami, Florida. Perry served as
Executive Officer on the USS Culebra Island and saw duty in the
Pacific in and around New Guinea and the Philippines. After the
war, Perry transitioned into the Naval Reserves, and for a time was
Commander of the Santa Rosa Naval Reserves Unit. In 1975 Perry
retired with the rank of Captain. In 1946, after five years of
WWII, Barbara and Perry settled in Healdsburg to share their lives
together and raise a family. In 1972 Perry and Barbara took over
the family ranch on West Dry Creek Road. Perry practiced dentistry
from his office on Matheson Street for 40 years. While he worked as
a dentist, Perry commuted to UCSF to teach restorative dentistry
twice a week until he retired as a full professor in 1973. Perry
was a member of the Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontists and
elected to its presidency in 1974. He was a life member of the
American Dental Association, the California State Dental
Association, and the Redwood Empire Dental Association, serving as
president of the latter. After Perry’s retirement from dentistry in
1985, he became a grape grower and supported many local and
countywide associations in the wine industry. Perry was a
knowledgeable man with many interests, included furniture making,
woodworking, jewelry design, masonry, fly tying, clock making,
beekeeping, photography, sailing, teaching navigation, chopping
firewood, winemaking, and vigilantly tending to his vegetable
garden and camellias. His children fondly remember him delivering
his fruits, vegetables, and flowers to friends and neighbors. Perry
was a quiet, dignified man of great integrity who believed that if
one did anything, one should do it well. He was well respected in
the community as a dentist, grape grower, and lifelong resident.
Perry is survived by his son Perry Beeson, Jr., of Healdsburg, his
daughter Jane Beeson Smith of Los Angeles, and his daughter Pamela
Beeson Frazier of Lake Oswego, Oregon; and by five grandchildren,
Derek and Ted Smith, the late Christen Smith, and Craig and
Elizabeth Frazier. His sisters Barbara Beeson Litton and Jeannette
Beeson predeceased him. To honor Perry’s wishes the immediate
family held a small memorial gathering at the family ranch on
Saturday, March 12. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that
donations in his memory be made to the Healdsburg Museum and
Historical Society, the Healdsburg District Hospital, or the
charity of your choice.