RUSHVILLE — Beth A. Malcom, 65, a longtime Rushville resident, passed on into Heaven Thursday morning, Dec. 13, 2012, with her loving family by her side.

Beth was born Nov. 16, 1947 in Rushville to Harold “Pete” and Jessie (Gastineau) Wood.  

Beth graduated from Rushville High School in 1966 and was “Miss Red” that year. She married Richard Malcom Sept. 13, 1969; he survives.

Beth was a florist’s assistant early in life for both Vogel’s and Wendells Florists. Shortly after her marriage to Dick, the couple moved to Martinsville where they spent nearly 10 years. While in Martinsville, Beth became one of the founding members of Eastview Christian Church, began her first full-time job as a teacher’s assistant at Robert Hammonds School for Handicapped Children and was office manager for the Indiana Democratic Central Committee. Beth had an illustrious working life. She was office manager for Congressman Fithain, became the first woman sales person employed by Moore-Lengen Printing, was Executive Director of the Rush County Chamber of Commerce from 1984 to 1988, was Admissions/Marketing Director at Flatrock River Lodge, Plainfield Health Care & Westfield Village, Customer Relations Director for Windsor Court in Carmel, Marketing, Admissions and Social Services Director for Riverview Hospital Transitional Care Unit in Noblesville, Service Director for the Rushville Salvation Army and was Director of Solid Waste in Rush County for a brief time before her illness made her unable to work. In 1988, Beth was presented the BPW Woman of the Year Award, the Athena Award, and was presented the Key to the City from the Honorable Joe Delon. In 1989, Beth was presented a plaque from the Rush County Chamber of Commerce for outstanding performance as Executive Director and from the Rushville Republican party for being selected as the most influential woman in Rush County during the 1980s. Her proudest professional accomplishments included Fijitsu Ten announcing that their company selected Rushville as their site for their first American facility, Walmart announcing that they would build in Rushville, Intermet Corporation purchasing the vacant Dana Building and Industrial Cab purchasing the vacant Meto-Kote building.  All of these things transpired while Beth was director of the Chamber of Commerce. Beth was a member of Rushville Church of Christ, Main Street Christian Church, attended Trinity United Presbyterian Church, member of the Rush County Chamber of commerce Board of Directors, Rush County Industrial Development Corporation Board of Directors, Rushville BPW Board of Directors and the Rushville FOP.

Survivors include her husband, Richard of Rushville; son, John Robert Malcom (and girlfriend, Olivia) of Rushville; brothers, Glen and Kay Wood of Rushville, Gene and Carol Wood of Rushville, Gary and Kim Childers of Sheridan; a sister, Bonnie and David Carfolite of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; beloved Rotweiller, Roscoe P.(Precious) Malcom; extended family, all of Martinsville, Keith and Martha Burns, Mike and Pam Burns, Teresa and Mark Crocker, Pam and Brad Sterwald and Lisa and Barnie Wood.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Jackie Pierce; and a brother, David Wood.

Services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Rushville with Pastor Mick Saunders and Rev. Sam Davenport presiding. Friends are welcome to visit from 3:30 p.m. until the time of the service Sunday at the church. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17 at Moscow Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Decatur County or Alzheimer’s Research.

Moster Mortuary, Rushville, entrusted with arrangements.