Patrick Alfred Beeby of McKinney, Texas passed away of old age on Thursday, April 2, 2020 at the age of 96. He was born in Hays, Kansas on St. Patricks Day, 1924 to Charles Alfred Beeby and Mary Beeby, nee McCarthy.The 7th of 9 children (two died in infancy), they lived well until the Trust Busters ruined his fathers wheat syndicate. Then came the dust bowls and the Great Depression. Life was hard in 1930s Kansas but we always had plenty to eat. He learned to hate oleo. He was gifted in math and science.After a semester of pre-med at Kansas State he received a draft notice, and while standing in line to be inducted into the US Army in Topeka, his best friend ran up and shouted Hey Pat! Theyre taking guys into the Navy. So he ran around the corner and enlisted in the Navy. When told the Silent Service paid 50% more, he raised his hand. He served aboard the submarine USS 203 Tuna, hunting in the South Pacific, from 1943 until the end of the war. Because of his math prowess, he became involved in fire control which meant using the analog computer on board, the TAC (Target Acquisition Computer), to solve the target equation for torpedo fire. It was this experience which led him to engineering and away from medicine after the war. He never held any animosity toward the Japanese people though Im not sure if he ever forgave the Aussies for strafing every damn US sub they spotted. His prodigious memory made him a dangerous poker and bridge player in the long stretches of boredom at sea interspersed with moments of terror. He was in the battle of Leyte Gulf most remembered by him for the horrible typhoon which sank many ships and killed many Americans. At 150 deep, their boat still rolled 30 degrees. They went deep.Shortly after the war he married Patricia Leigh Blakely of WaKeeney, Kansas after which they both attended Kansas State, thanks to the GI Bill, where he earned a EE and a BA in Business in 3 years, while working 40 hours a week. He then interviewed successfully with the IBM Corporation which led to a quite amazing 25 year career with them. He helped develop core memory with IBM at MIT. He worked on the 701. He ran the SAGE Air Defense project, the SABRE Airline Reservation project, and the automation of the NYSE project. He ran the high-mod end of the 360 line. His post-IBM career was difficult for him as he was so steeped in the IBM culture which was as ruthless as it was successful.He was swindled out of his fortune in the 1980s.He then became a founder of the Prince of Peace Catholic Parish in the rapidly growing Plano, Texas, writing their business plan. He was most proud of having been involved in such a project.He and our mother adopted two children: me, Eric, and my sister Leslie, both of whom survive him, as does his brother Frank.He is pre-deceased by his wife, Patricia. He loved her deeply and missed her terribly.He was a devout Catholic. He loved dancing to the Big Bands and fancied himself a real Fred Astaire which he was. He was an athlete. He loved golf and golfed until he was 92, shooting his age . Excepting his golf clubs, his personal possessions would fit in a shoe box. He was in fact what made the Greatest Generation Great.Due to the current virus lockdown, his columbarium installment Mass at Prince of Peace Catholic church in Plano Texas remains TBD.Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website. Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.