Mr. Beach was born in Akron in 1926 and graduated from Ellet High School there in 1944. He served with the Navy during World War II and, in 1950, graduated from Miami University with a degree in business administration. At MU he was a member of the Men's Glee Club and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

He spent 41 years in the corrugated box industry - first with Packaging Corp. of America (now Pactiv Corp.) and later with Akers Packaging in Middletown. He retired from Akers in 1991.

Mr. Beach was on the board of directors of Midfed Savings Bank and a member of the finance committee of the Middletown Regional Hospital. He had been president of the Middletown Job Opportunity board and of the Middletown Rotary Club.

He was an elder and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, where he sang tenor with the choir. He was also a member of the Middle Civic Chorus, the International Touring Choir, Brown's Run Country Club and the YMCA.

He was preceded in death by a son, Allen Beach.

Survivors include: his wife of 49 years, Sylvia Strunk Beach; a daughter, Susan Beach of Mount Lookout; and a brother, Paul Beach of San Diego.

A memorial service is at 2 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown. Burial was at Spring Grove Cemetery. Memorials: Allen Beach Memorial Award Fund, c/o Middletown Community Foundation, 36 Donham Plaza, Middletown, OH 45042.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com