Robert Wilford Beckstead

Dr. Robert W. Beckstead passed away on April 3, 2018 at the age of 86. Dr. Beckstead was a native of Nephi, Utah, the son of Dr. Francis Hamilton Beckstead and Edith Belliston Beckstead. He graduated from Juab High School. He attended the University of Utah where he earned both a B.S. in economics and a Masters of Business Administration. He then attended the University of Illinois where he received a PH.D. in economics. He also obtained diplomas from the Pennsylvania State University Executive Management Program and The Industrial College of the Armed Forces Strategic Logistic Program. Later he was granted an honorary diploma from La Escuela de Defensa Nacional of Argentina. Dr. Beckstead has served on the economics faculties of Tarkio College, New Mexico State University, The Industrial College of the Armed Forces, The George Washington University, The University of Southern California, The University of Denver, and the Capitol College. He was awarded the J. Carlton Ward, Jr. Distinguished Professorship while serving as a professor of economics at The Industrial College of the Armed Forces, (ICAF), National Defense University in Washington, DC. He was a visiting scholar at The National Defense University of Korea and the Korean Institute of Defense Analyses, both in Seoul, Korea, and at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. His teaching, research and writing career have focused on national economic issues, national defense strategy, international economic policy, and managerial economic decision making. He has distinguished himself as a scholar, author, lecturer and world traveler. At the time of his retirement from ICAF in July 1998, he was the senior faculty member. In addition, Dr. Beckstead has served as a consultant to the Office of Research Analyses of the Department of the Air Force, the SAFEGUARD System Evaluation Agency of the Department of Army, the Energy Policy Office of the Department of Defense, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), and the War Gaming Division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He married Doris A. Shaw, also a native of Nephi, Utah in 1955. They have four daughters, Karen A. (Bruce) Bennett, Charlotte K. (John) Ferguson, Sandra L. (Larry) Hepworth and Linda E. (David) Spencer; thirteen grandchildren 9 great grandchildren and one on the way. They have been residents of Fairfax, VA since 1973. After his retirement from college teaching in 1998, Bob devoted most of his time to the duties of a patriarch in the Oakton Virginia Stake and as a sealer in the Washington, DC temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The family will receive friends at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2719 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA on Sunday, April 8, 2018 from 6-8 PM where funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, April 9, 2018. Interment Nephi Utah. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to either the Humanitarian Fund or the Missionary Fund of the above mentioned church at lds.org.

Robert Wilford Beckstead

May 12, 1931 - April 3, 2018