Claudean Mae Beacham Foltz
 
MRS. CLAUDEAN MAE BEACHAM FOLTZ, age 89, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Hattiesburg, passed 
away suddenly on Monday morning, April 22, 2002, in Danville, California. 

Mrs. Foltz was born in Centralia, Illinois, on March 4, 1913, the only child of Alexina 
Allen Beacham and Claude Beacham. Her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Bangs Allen 
of Cleveland, Ohio, were instrumental in her early upbringing and instilled within young 
Claudean a love for her family heritage, as well as the finer things in life. Through her 
grandfather Allen, she was descended from the earliest settlers of The Plymouth Colony in 
Massachusetts, and the Allen's of Old Deerfield, Massachusetts. 

Mrs. Foltz attended the Centralia public schools, where she graduated with honors. In the 
fall of 1931, she entered Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where she 
pledged the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Because of the Great Depression, she withdrew from 
school, returned to Centralia to work for the Woolworth Company. 

On October 9, 1933, she secretly married her sweetheart and fellow student at Illinois 
Wesleyan, David Baron Foltz, the youngest son of Rev. and Mrs. M.C. Foltz, the local 
Methodist minister. To this union were born three children Barbara Jan in 1940, Claudean 
Elizabeth (Betsy) in 1950, and David Baron (Mike) Foltz, Jr. in 1953. 

Mrs. Foltz' greatest focus was her family and home, and she spent her entire adult life 
devoted to the love, support, and advancement of her husband and children. Dr. Foltz' 
distinguished career as a collegiate choral director took the family from Illinois, Iowa, 
Nebraska, Kansas, and ultimately, Mississippi, where Dr. Foltz retired in 1977 as 
Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1978-79 he 
returned to serve as acting Dean of the USM College of Fine Arts. As one former colleague 
expressed it, "Claudean's personal qualities of character , impeccable taste, and gracious 
to all, provided a social dimension which complimented all University endeavors...She was 
truly a grand lady." 

Upon the passing of Dr. Foltz in 1992, Mrs. Foltz and her daughter, Betsy, moved to Houston 
to be near her son, David Jr., and his family. Mrs. Foltz was a member of Main Street United 
Methodist Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the E.M. Chapter of the International P. E. O. 
Sisterhood, Wichita, Kansas, and the Mississippi Chapter of the Daughters of the American 
Revolution. 

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, David Baron Jr. and Beth Monroe Foltz of Houston 
daughters Barbara Jan Foltz Cowen and husband Dr. George David Cowen, and Claudean Elizabeth 
"Betsy" Foltz of Danville, CA five grandchildren Dr. Susan Katharine Cowen and husband Todd 
Bell of Walnut Creek, CA, Elizabeth Bryce Cowen, Esq. of New Orleans, LA, David Baron cowen 
of Danville, CA, Sarah Elizabeth Foltz and Katherine Alexina Monroe Foltz of Houston, TX. 

Interment will be in the Foltz Family Plot at the Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, 
followed by graveside services on Saturday, May 4, 2002 at 11 a.m. The Reverend William 
Leppin, Pastor of The First United Methodist Church, Centralia, officiating. Memorial 
donations may be made to the University of Southern Mississippi - Dr. David Foltz Choral 
Fund. 


Date: April 30, 2002 
Source: Hattiesburg American {MS}
Submitted by: Cindy Ford