Paul Beech

Paul A. "Bud" Beech, 84, of Iola, Kansas, passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at Olathe Medical Center. Paul was born July 31, 1931, in St. Paul, Kansas, the son of George and Ruth (Smith) Beech. He grew up in the Walnut area and graduated from Walnut High School in 1948. Bud served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years. He was self employed after retiring from the postal service and has resided in Iola since 1960. Paul was a member of St. John''s Catholic Church in Iola, and the V.F.W. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. On May 24, 1972, Paul married Margaret J. "Peg" Diskin who survives. Other survivors include his 6 children, Bill Beech of Iola, Catherina Kelly of Lenexa, KS, Mark Carroll of Pratt, KS, Steve Carroll of Richmond, MO, Charlotte Smardo of Kansas City, MO, and John Carroll of Goddard, KS; 3 siblings, Wayne Beech and Max Beech both of Chanute, KS and Evelyn Dunham of Manhattan, KS; 13 grandchildren, Jed Beech, Dillon Beech, Kyleen Kelly, Erin Kelly, Daniel Potter, Kristi Holland, Adam Carroll, Marcy Carroll, Molly Carroll, Kyle Carroll, Peter Smardo, Charlie Smardo and Maggie Smardo; and 5 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Jennifer Carroll. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at the Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Chapel in Iola. The funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at St. John''s Catholic Church in Iola, with burial to follow in Highland Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Iola Public Library and may be left with the funeral home. To leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com .