Posted on 11/17/2018
Beatrice (Bea) Thacher, Age 102, died peacefully in Edina on Oct. 30, 2018. Bea was born Oct. 5, 1916, in Morristown, New Jersey. When Bea was just four years old, her mother died. Because of that loss, Bea's childhood was difficult, but she survived it with spunk and spirit --qualities she displayed until the day she died. In 1938, Bea graduated from Newark State Teachers College with a BFA. That same year, she married her sweetheart Bob, a midshipman at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Her life as a Navy wife took her all over the country, and she loved to regale friends and family with stories of her wild adventures. The story of her experience in World War II was especially dramatic. In 1941, Bob's fleet was suddenly ordered to Pearl Harbor. Bea had a premonition she should go with him, even though dependents were discouraged from doing so. With her two-year old in tow and pregnant with her second child, she sailed to Hawaii and settled in a bungalow near Bob's ship, the USS California. Her decision to go saved Bob's life. Because Bea was there, Bob was home the morning the Japanese attacked instead of being onboard his ship. When it sank that fateful day, he would have surely died. Bea loved children, taught kindergarten and first grade all over the country, then worked as a librarian at Breck School until retiring in 1975. Bea had many gifts. She was a wonderful writer and storyteller, a talented artist, a fine pianist and pure magic with little kids. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, daughters Carol (Steve Ross) Ann (Will Schmid), and grandson Kyle Schmid. She is survived by her children Sue Crolick, Becky Thacher-Bell (Tracie), and Tom Thacher (Susan Nerton); grandchildren Thacher Schmid, Marta Drew, Jessica Rolph, Schuyler Schmid, Tyler Thacher, Emily Bell, Ryan Thacher, Justin Bell, and 12 beloved great-grandchildren. Services will be held at St Luke's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis in December. Notice at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Art Buddies, a non-profit which pairs creative mentors with underprivileged children, 110 N. Fifth St, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Art Buddies was founded by Bea's daughter Sue Crolick.
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