Joseph Gable Beerer

1914 - 2010  (96 years)

• Name	Joseph Gable Beerer
  Born	19 Apr 1914	Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania
  Gender	Male
  Died	31 May 2010	Santa Barbara, California
  	April 19, 1914 - May 31, 2010 Santa Barbara resident since 1979, Joseph G. Beerer, Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and former aeronautical engineer, passed away May 31, 2010, at age 96. Born to Joseph G. Beerer, Sr. and Mary Hagaman Beerer in Norristown, PA on April 19, 1914, Joe found an early fascination with airplanes, building models as a child and later earning an aeronautical engineering degree from New York University in 1936. Following graduation he worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, MD before joining James S. McDonnell at the newly formed McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis, MO. At McDonnell he gained the reputation as a specialist in the analysis of aircraft engine cooling systems. North American Aviation in El Segundo, CA hired him in 1940 to be their chief thermodynamicist and asked him to solve the complex thermodynamics problems related to the cooling system on the P51 Mustang fighter. Joe's work and that of others enabled North American to complete the aircraft design and begin production in time for the war. During this time Joe also contributed design solutions to aerodynamic problems with the B25 bomber that North American was also producing for the war. Joe also participated in the design and development of the B45, F86 and F100 post-war aircraft. After the war Joe headed North American's Aerophysics Department. This department was at the forefront in the development of rocket guidance and propulsion technology that would see application in many Department of Defense weapons systems and NASA spacecraft. In 1951 Joe was promoted to president of North American's Missile Division in Downey, CA. During the 1950s this division built and tested the Navaho rocket-launched cruise missile and the Hound Dog air-to-surface supersonic cruise missile for the US Air Force. Both systems were designed to deliver nuclear warheads to the Soviet Union. The Navahoproject was cancelled in 1957. However its technologies were transferred to later generations of missile systems. The Hound Dog missile, carried aloft by a B52 bomber, was an operational defense system for 15 years. Joe retired from NAA in 1962 when he was the corporate vice president of engineering. Joe and his wife, Virginia, raised two sons and one daughter while living in Playa del Rey, El Segundo, Whittier, and Palos Verdes Estates during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Both Joe and Virginia were active church members since high school. They were married on November 12, 1938, in the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norristown, PA. In the 1950s they were members of the St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Whittier, CA. In 1964 they joined the Presbyterian Church, most recently being members of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara. Joe was an elder and a deacon in the church. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary last November at their residence at Samarkand, Santa Barbara. Virginia passed away on February 4, 2010. Joe enjoyed gardening, Jeeping with his sons in the Mojave Desert, vacationing with the family at various spots across the western states, and traveling to Hawaii with his wife. He was beloved by all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Their fondness was due to his devoted attention to their activities and his frequent letters and phone calls. Joe is survived by his brother, James S. B. Beerer, of Audubon, PA; and by his three children: Joseph Beerer (Sonia) of Glendale, CA; James Beerer (Susy) of Evergreen, CO; and Mary Casso (Phil) of Santa Barbara. He is survived by ten grandchildren: Rebecca Barndt (Tim) of Phoenix, AZ; Amy Kabia (Abdul) of Hartsdale, NY; Michael Beerer of Lancaster, CA; David Beerer of Irvine, CA; and Ingrid Beerer of Berkeley, CA; Natalie McCullough (Kevin) of Castro Valley, CA; Andrew Beerer (Gage) of Maui, HI; Brett Beerer (Emily) of Littleton, CO; Robin Temple of Santa Barbara; Philip Casso of Santa Barbara. And by eleven great grandchildren: Erica and Madelyn Barndt of Phoenix; Eku Kabia of Hartsdale; Riley and Kieran McCullough of Castro Valley; Gable and Sloan Beerer of Maui; Raco and, Amelia Beerer of Littleton; Jessica Cervantes and Kassandra Harper of Santa Barbara. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. His children plan to travel to Hawaii later this year to scatter their parent's ashes off the coast of Maui.
  Person ID	I13770	Grow
  Last Modified	21 Feb 2013

  
  

  Father	Joseph Gable Beerer,   b. 17 Feb 1884, Pennsylvania ,   d. 13 Feb 1944, Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania  (Age 59 years)
  Mother	Mary Busch Hagaman,   b. 17 Oct 1889, Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania ,   d. 21 May 1951, Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania  (Age 61 years)
  Married	9 Sep 1911	Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania
  Family ID	F2080	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Virginia,   d. 4 Feb 2010, California
  Married	12 Nov 1938	Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Norristown, Pennsylvania
  Children	1. Joseph Beerer   2. James Beerer   3. Mary Beerer
  Last Modified	21 Feb 2013
  Family ID	F4756	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 19 Apr 1914 - Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania Died - 31 May 2010 - Santa Barbara, California  = Link to Google Earth