Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Guy Beardsley Jr., age 91, of Shelton, Connecticut, departed this life to be with the Lord on November 2, 2021, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. He was a devoted husband for 50 years to the late Patricia Ruth Burnett Beardsley, affectionately known as Pat, who passed away in 2006.

Born on October 24, 1930, in Griffin Hospital, Derby, Guy was the son of Stephen Sr. and Constance Beardsley. He pursued higher education at Norwich University in Vermont, earning bachelor’s degrees in history and French. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army as an armor officer, serving valiantly in the Korean War as a tank platoon leader on the front lines. Following the armistice, he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he met and married Pat in 1955. His military career continued as he became aviation-qualified, first flying fixed-wing aircraft and later helicopters, leading to two additional combat tours in Vietnam. Together, he and Pat raised three children while navigating various postings before retiring from active duty in 1980. After his military service, Guy became a qualified paramedic in Texas but returned to Shelton in 1983 after the passing of his father.

Following their shared passion for organic farming, Guy and Pat founded Beardsley Organic Farms in 1991, which was later renamed Guy’s Eco Garden. Guy played a vital role in establishing eight local farmers’ markets, with the Downtown Shelton Farmers’ Market being the most notable. He revitalized and commanded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Huntington Post 10466 and was a founding member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Connecticut Chapter Certification Committee. Since 2009, he co-hosted WPKN’s twice-monthly “Organic Farm Stand” radio show (89.5 FM, Bridgeport). His deep faith in God led him to serve in numerous volunteer roles, including as a worship leader at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Huntington.

Guy is survived by his daughter, Patricia Janelle Beardsley, and her husband, Edward Wittkofski, of Shelton; his son, Col. (Ret) Stephen G. Beardsley III, and his wife, Judith, of Olney, Maryland; and his son, Eric Burnett Beardsley, of Austin, Texas. He also leaves behind his brother, David, of Shelton; five cherished grandchildren: Jan Elizabeth Peer (Beardsley), Caitlin Beardsley Eising, Charlotte Marie Koga (Wittkofski), Stephen Joshua Beardsley, and Zachary James Beardsley; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing was held on November 5th from 4 to 7 PM at Riverview Funeral Home. The funeral, complete with military honors, took place at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Shelton (Huntington) at 1:30 PM on November 6th, followed by an outdoor reception on the Huntington Green. The Riverview Funeral Home, located at 390 River Road, Shelton, managed the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requested memorial contributions be made to the Northeast Organic Farm Association of Connecticut [ctnofa.org] or WPKN, Bridgeport [wpkn.org].

The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the community and military personnel who enriched Guy’s remarkable life. As always, to God be the Glory.