August 2008 Inyokern neighbor of the month

Wally Beckett moved to the Indian Wells Valley in 1977 and he and his lovely wife Ivy settled in Inyokern 20 years ago. They are very active in our community and we are fortunate to have such great neighbors.

Wally is a native of New York City and grew up near Central Park. He spent many years in New York working in construction and as an electrical engineer for the NYC transit Authority. In 1977 he decided it was time for a change and accepted a position at China Lake. He was soon on the move again and took the opportunity to work on projects in Saudi Arabia before returning to China Lake.

While working in Saudi Arabia Wally met Ivy through a mutual friend. His friend told him about a lady in his home country that he should meet. Ivy lived in the Philippines and Wally went there on his vacation to meet her. Wally and Ivy began corresponding after his return and the couple married in the Philippines the following year.

The couple's first home was in Ridgecrest but it became evident to Wally that his new bride would be more at home in a more rural setting. Ivy was one of nine children who grew up on the family farm in the Philippines and felt more at home with wide open spaces. Wally showed her some acreage he had purchased before they married and suggested they build there. Twenty years have gone by and their spacious home is surrounded by mature trees and rural beauty in a peaceful neighborhood in north Inyokern.

Having grown up on a farm Ivy is no stranger to hard work. She enjoys working in the yard and also helps Wally with community service projects like building deck ramps and replacing smoke detector batteries for seniors who need help.

Wally is in excellent physical shape for a forty year old, and many will be surprised to hear that he is weeks away from his 77th birthday. He golfs regularly and plays tennis three times a week. He is a regular volunteer at the Inyokern Senior Center, gleaners and commodities distribution. He also builds decks and ramps for local seniors and performs various duties for the Inyokern Rotary Club. He is an usher at Saint Ann Catholic Church and runs the advertising page in the church bulletin.

Ivy is also active in Saint Ann Catholic Church. Wally loves a good joke and shared his sense of humor when he quoted Father Cleary as saying Ivy would be going to heaven for having put up with Wally!

Besides serving two years as president of the Inyokern Rotary Club, Wally was named Inyokern Rotarian of the Year for 2008. With so many interests and accomplishments I know I have missed a few. Knowing the Beckett family tradition of community service, the list will only get longer. Thank you Wally and Ivy for making Inyokern a more pleasant place to live.