Orin and Marie Beechy Peace Scholarship

Throughout their lives Orin and Marie Ramseyer Beechy have cultivated a keen interest in international relations and peace through contacts with church agencies and Goshen College.

Orin grew up in Berlin, Ohio, a small town in Holmes County, the middle child in a family with two other brothers, Ralph and Atlee. His parents, George and Katie Beechy, raised vegetables on a small farm, and his father worked as a machinist and truck driver. They were active members of the Martin’s Creek Mennonite Church.

Orin came to Goshen College as a student due to the influence of GC graduates, Milton Smith and Karl Massinari, who taught in that area. In fact, all three brothers went to Goshen, as did their wives.

Marie grew up on a farm near Smithville, Ohio. Her parents were Chauncey and Kathryn Graber Rainseyer. She was also the middle of three children: Ivan was older brother and Martha, a younger sister. Her mother’s parents had come to the U.S. from France to escape the draft in the l890s. Her father died when she was 10, leaving her mother to raise the family. They attended the Oak Grove Mennonite Church.

Orin and Marie met at Martins Creek church and became further acquainted on visits to Goshen College. They were married in 1943.

Orin attended Goshen College full time for one year, 1929-30, graduating in 1937 after taking summer courses. He received his masters degree from Kent State in 1952.

Marie attended Goshen from 1936-38, and then began to teach. She also came back to GC for several summer sessions. She also attended Ohio State University and took extension courses from Kent State University. She graduated from Ashland College in 1956.

Both Orin and Marie were teachers in the Wooster city school system for many years. Marie taught elementary grades for 25 years, and Orin taught industrial arts.

During World War II, Orin was in Civilian Public Service, Including one year as director of the CPS camp in Downey, Idaho. Marie served as matron of that camp.

The Beechys have three children: Mary Lou Pfeiffer, who teaches German at Central Christian High School; Carol Beechy, a doctor in Cooperstown, NY; arid Linda Houshower, a nurse and health-food store proprietor in Bluffton, Ohio. All are graduates. They have four grandsons: Christopher and Matthew Pfeiffer and Samuel and Nicholas Houshower.

Both Marie and Orin were active in the Oak Grove Mennonite Church, teaching Sunday school and Summer Bible School. Marie also sang in the choir and served as a member of the spiritual life

commission and education commission. One of her interests was the Stephen’s Ministry Program, an interdenominational lay-caring program.

Orin served on the spiritual life commission, too, as well as the property and finance commission. He also chaired the remodeling board for the church and was Sunday school superintendent. In the broader community he was a founding member of the board for Habitat for Humanity, the board for Interfaith Housing, the Goshen College alumni board and president of the Wooster Education Association. He also served on the Boy’s Village board for a number of years. He died in December 1991.

Through the years the Beechys have been strong supporters of Goshen College. They particularly have appreciated the peace stance at GC, including the work of Orin’s brother Atlee, professor emeritus of psychology, who set up the Peace Fellowship. To further the work of peace education at the college they have established the Orin and Marie Beechy Peace Scholarship.