She was born on November 7, 1932 in Henry County, a daughter of the late George and Luva (Whiteley) Irvin. Doris was married to Donald Beck for 53 years, before he died in 2014.
Doris was a 1950 graduate of Mt. Summit High School. She resided in Henry County for the first 81 years of her life before moving to Greenfield. She retired from New Castle Schools in 1996 after 21 years of employment, where she mostly served as the librarian at Wilbur Wright Elementary School. She was also previously employed at Interstate Finance, Inc. in New Castle.
Doris was an active member of the Indiana Rural Youth in the 1950s, and she served on the Rural Youth state board and as its first vice president in 1958. She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Castle for 54 years, having served as the church’s financial secretary, secretary of the church council, church librarian, Sunday School teacher and as a member of the Dorcas Sewing Circle. After moving to Greenfield in 2014, Doris became a member of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine.
Her hobbies included sewing, reading, traveling and spending time with her family. In recent years, she authored her own life story in an autobiography entitled, My Early Life As I Remember. She was passionate about attending the Indiana State Fair every summer of her life and enjoyed attending grandchildren’s musical concerts, sporting events, and 4-H activities. Doris believed that “Children are a gift from God,” (Psalm 127:13), and she especially enjoyed her time spent with her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who all adored their Grandma Beck.
Doris is survived by her three children, Steve (Donna) Beck of Lagro, Barbara (Jeff) Bailey of Indianapolis, and Linda (Mike) Langford of Avon; seven grandchildren, Stephanie (Nick) Robertson, Leanne Beck, Andrea (Chris) Bland, Lauren (Cameron) Hein, and Grace, Drew, and Katherine Langford; two great grandchildren, Bradley and Hannah Bland; a sister Carolyn (Ron) Merrill, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Irvin, and four sisters: Bernice Ramey, Margaret Igo, Betty Boger, and Marilyn Petry.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Doris may be made to the Mission Endowment Fund at Cross of Grace Lutheran Church, 3519 S. 600 W., New Palestine, IN 46163 and/or www.crossofgrace.org/give.
In light of the pandemic, in-person funeral services will include immediate family only. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Sproles Family Funeral Home. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com.