Susan Harrington Beard departed this life on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at her home in Merritt Island, Florida with her sister, Janey Harrington, by her side. She grew up in Newport News and Poquoson, VA. Susan and her husband Dean moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida in 1987 and she has been a Merritt Island resident since 1999. Susan graduated from Poquoson High School in 1978, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1982, and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology in 1993. Susan worked at Collins Aerospace (previously Rockwell Collins) in Melbourne, Florida from September 2001 until her passing, serving as an Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) subject matter expert, reaching the level of Principal Systems Engineer (EMC). Susan was well known and respected in the Avionics EMC community and served on several industry standards committees including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Portable Electronic Devices (PED) Advisory and Rulemaking Committee. Susan also served as an Environmental Technical Standard Order (TSO) Compliance Representative (TCR). Some of the previous companies Susan had worked for included Harris Corporation and IBM. Susan loved all physical activities and treasured any she could do with Dean or her dogs. She was a regular at her local gym and could be found enjoying her time boating, fishing, golfing, camping, attending NASCAR races and football games. Despite being a cheerleader in her earlier years she was always a tomboy at heart.
Susan is preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Franklin (Dean) Beard, and parents, Patricia (Pat) and Richard (Dick) Harrington. She is survived by her stepson, Christopher Beard, and wife Molly; her granddaughters Terralyn, Zalinya, Karley; her sisters, Janey Harrington and Courtney Rollins; brother-in-law and friend, Mark Rollins; nieces and nephews, David Bruce, Price Foster, Shannon Rollins, Brendan Rollins, and Erin Rollins; aunts, Mary Harrington and Kay Fleetwood.
Special thanks to Susan’s neighbors and friends, the Morrill family and the Jeyaseelan family, and to the nurses at St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care. A celebration of life service will be held Friday, February 4 at 2 p.m. at Georgianna Church by Corky Calhoun, Senior Pastor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.
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