BECK, VERA R., of Oak Ridge, formerly of Wartburg, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, at her home. Mrs. Beck was a former Wartburg Postmaster and was named Tennessee Postmaster of the Year by the National League of Postmasters in 1972. She was a volunteer at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, where she had accumulated over 10,000 volunteer hours. She was also a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and a member of Glenwood Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin E. Beck; her parents, Lewis and Ethel Runions; her brother, Cecil Runions; two sisters, Alma Bates and Ruth Hurst; and by a niece, Betty Chastain. Mrs. Beck is survived by her nieces and nephews, Sue and Kenneth Jenkins and Connie and Jimmy Bowen, all of Hickman County, Bob and Elizabeth Lovelace Lecroy of Chattanooga, and Billie Lovelace Carringer and David of Oak Ridge; and by several friends, grandnieces and grandnephews. According to her family, Mrs. Beck was known as a very caring person. Her family said her greatest joy was in helping those at Methodist Medical Center and the Hospice House. Her family said when Mrs. Beck was asked about all those hours of no pay, her answer was always, "I'm paid every day by a thank you, a smile and a hug." The funeral will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003, at Schubert Funeral Home in Wartburg with the Rev. Tom Mooty officiating. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Wartburg City Cemetery. The family requests that any memorials be in the form of contributions to Hospitality House of Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, 210 W. Tennessee Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, 900 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, or to First Baptist Church, 308 N. Maiden Lane, Wartburg, TN 37887. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. [Oak Ridger]