Joseph L. Beall, Jr.

On April 24, 2011 we lost the patriarch of our family who was a wonderful and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle who was loved deeply by family and countless friends. April 1, 1937 at home in Mitchelville Maryland a son was born to Les and Doris Beall known to family as "Sonny". He was blessed with three children, Jeanette, J.L. and Joyce. On December 14, 1973 he was once again blessed when he married the love of his life, Erika. Together they completed one another and showed everyone the meaning of true love. Sonny was raised on the family farm in Mitchelville were his father brought him up with a strong work ethic. He was told by his father "what ever you do, do your best". Sonny lived by this motto and passed it on to his family throughout his life. At the age of 3 he began working on the family farm and continued working until his retirement from Safeway, Incorporated after more than 30 years . While working for Safeway, he became involved with the Safe driving competitions known as truck roadeos. These became a family affair shared with his wife and children cheering him on. Les, as he was known to the trucking industry, won numerous company, state and national awards. In 1985 he was awarded the prestigious G.D. Sontheimer Award for Professional Excellence. To qualify for the award a driver is nominated by the judges and voted on by his peers. In 1987 he won the first ever National Grand Champion Award by earning the highest scores among all competitors. In later years Les said "winning the Championship was the second best thing he ever did; the first marrying his wife Erika of 37 years". A long time resident of Bowie, Maryland, Les and his wife Erika retired to a small community in Vermont. Here he continued his love for driving by helping friends on their farm. However, the love for his family kept calling him home. Numerous times during any given year you found him and Erika traveling to Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina to visit family and friends. Les (Sonny) is survived by his wife of 37 years Erika; sister Cecelia Kujawa of Rosedale, Maryland; son Joseph L. Beall III (J.L.) of Mount Dora, Florida,; daughters Jeanette L. Beall of Charlottesville, Virginia; Joyce Stacey of Kannapolis, North Carolina, and Erika Sumner of Centreville, Virginia. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends who he considered family. A man who was loved and admired by everyone, Les (Sonny) will be greatly missed.