Baylor Mourns Passing of Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Chair of Geology

WACO, Texas (Oct. 26, 2018) - Baylor University is mourning the passing of Harold H. Beaver, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Chair of Geology in the College of Arts & Sciences, who died Oct. 25 at the age of 93.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at First Baptist Church of Waco, 500 Webster Ave. Family visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd.

A native of Ohio, Dr. Beaver served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Rigel. After his three years, he returned to the States and went to Taylor University, Ohio University and Wheaton College, where he met his wife Dorcas. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, he began his teaching career as a professor of geology at Lamar University in Beaumont. Following that, he joined the faculty at Baylor University, just after the tornado in 1953.

Dr. Beaver then joined Exxon for 20 years, returning to Baylor in 1976, when he was asked to become chair of the department of geology. He retired in 1995.

Joe Yelderman, Ph.D., professor of geosciences, knew Dr. Beaver as both a student and colleague.

“He came in the fall of 1976 and signed my master’s thesis when I graduated that December,” Yelderman said. “I may have been the first graduate student he approved as a chairman. Also, his initials were H.H., and we affectionately referred to him as Happy Harold because he had such a positive attitude."

Yelderman said that as chair, Dr. Beaver established the geology Ph.D. program and took the department on a path from local and regional impact to national and international prominence.

“He was a true example of servant leadership and positioned our geosciences department as a leader in interdisciplinary and collaborative earth sciences research. Our deepest prayers are with his wife Dorcas, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they cherish his memory,” Yelderman said.

Dr. Beaver was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Waco and a member of Abner McCall’s Sunday School Class. He also was a member of Kiwanis.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Marcia Robbins and husband, Tom, Jan Frost and husband, Roy, and Susan Wommack and husband, Anthony; six grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Baylor University geology or First Baptist Church of Waco.