Fred Clare Beavers, retired Army Colonel, passed away on April 21, 2026. He was 99 years old.

Fred was born in San Diego, California on January 12, 1927, to Elmer And Florence (Vliet) Beavers. He then spent most of his early years in Morristown, NJ, growing up alongside his brother, Elmer, and graduated from Morristown High School. He married his wife Matilda (Barkman) on December 11, 1949, and settled in Mendham, where they built their own house, of which they were very proud. They were married for 72 years.

Colonel Beavers enlisted in the US Army during WWII on November 29, 1944. After the war, he enlisted in the Regular Army, obtaining the rank of Tech 4. He was ordered up to active duty during the Korean War as a Warrant Officer and served in the 69th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. Upon his return to the States, he received a direct commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the NJ Army National Guard. He served in several Staff positions, culminating as Assistant Chief of Staff (G-1) for the 50th Armored Division. On October 3, 1975, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and assigned as Commander of the 50th Armored Division Support Command with units in New Jersey and Vermont. Over the course of his career, Col. Beavers completed the Field Artillery Advanced Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and the Nuclear Weapons Course. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk Virginia. He served as Executive Director to the Chief of Staff for the Department of Defense until his retirement. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, the Korean War Service Medal awarded by the Republic of Korea, and the New Jersey Medal of Honor.

Fred was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of NJ, Prospect Lodge 24, and was the recipient of the Grand Master White Apron Award. He was a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite as a 32nd Degree Mason. He was also a Noble in the Shrine of North America (Salaam Temple, Livingston, NJ) and a Past Patron in the Order of the Eastern Star of NJ, Starlight Chapter (Budd Lake, NJ), where he served as a Grand Officer of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of New Jersey.

Fred spent many years as a volunteer firefighter, and served as Chief Engineer of the Ralston Volunteer Fire Company of the Mendham Township Fire Department. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 342 of Chester, NJ.

Fred was a man of many talents and interests. He enjoyed tinkering and inventing, gardening, and camping. He was a hobbyist handy-man who could fix just about anything. Community was very important to Fred and, whether in Mendham or Cedar Crest, where he spent the last twenty years of his life, he tried to be as involved as possible. He loved helping people and made a great impact on all he met.

Fred is predeceased by his wife, Tillie, and survived by his daughter, Jody Hoffman, granddaughter, Leigh Hoffman, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham on Wednesday, April 29, with visitation from 11 AM to 12 PM, followed by interment at Hilltop Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice.