Linda Susan (Beck) Graves Obituary

Linda Susan Beck was born on May 18, 1954 to Robert and Louise Beck in Ellensburg Washington. Everyone that knew her, knew her as Susan. Her whole life it was a struggle to tell people she goes by Susan not Linda.

Susan attended Kindergarten in Ellensburg Washington, but the family moved to Renton Washington around 1960. The family moved because Susan’s dad was a Greyhound bus driver and he could get better bus routes out of Seattle verses Ellensburg.

Susan went to Renton schools and graduated Renton High School in 1972. She met David her future husband in high school, but they did not start dating until a few years later after meeting again at a mutual friend’s house. Susan worked at the Renton Public Library while attending her senior year. She went to Green River Community College where she earned a one-year certificate in secretarial studies. After earning her certificate, she went to work for the Kenworth Truck Company in Seattle and later transferred to Kenworth Renton. She started dating David while working in Renton and living in a small apartment on Factory Ave also in Renton. Susan and David were married on April 19 1975 at the Village Chapel in Renton and rented a small house on Burnett Ave S. After a few years they bought their first house in the BrynMawr area outside of Renton. Their sons Joshua and Jason were born while living in BrynMawr. They moved to a home in Tiffany Park Renton when Josh was about 5 years old. Susan worked several jobs over the years. For a while she was a stay at home mom but eventually returned to work as a secretary for the Renton School District and the Boeing Company plus others before settling into working for New Hope Presbyterian Church of Kent (formerly the 1st EPC of Renton). After the boys left or were about to leave home in 2004 they downsized to a rambler style home in the Wildwood estates area of Kent WA. Susan viewed her job at New Hope not only as a job but as a ministry and enjoyed working there for 20 years before retiring in 2017.

Susan and David have enjoyed life together and have had many wonderful trips together. Susan enjoyed studying her Bible and praying for Church, Friends and Family. She was a member of the Harmony Bible Study group at church. She loved sunflowers and camping in their trailer. She especially liked the ocean and flying her two string kite on the beach. Susan and David enjoyed square dancing together and were/are members of the PI-R Squares Dance Club in Kent WA.

Susan passed away after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer on April 8, 2020, eleven days short of their 45th anniversary. She is survived by her husband David Graves. Sons Joshua Graves (Wife Tracy) of Olympia WA, Jason Graves (Wife Michelle) of Tukwila WA, Brothers Donald Beck of Renton WA, David Beck (wife Martha) of Hot Springs SD, Terry Beck (wife Melody) of Nebraska and Sister Kathy Beck Wilber of Avoca IA. Susan loved her 5 grandchildren immensely. They are Isaiah (17), Alyssa (10), Andrew (9), Jonathan (6) and Adaline (4).

She was much loved will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know and work with her.