Beatrice A. Kelch; Ex-Teacher, Police Officer

Beatrice A. Kelch, a former police officer and teacher, died at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo. She was 74.

She was born Sept. 11, 1925, in St. Louis, where she was raised.

During World War II, Kelch served as a Red Cross nurse in London. After the war, she became an airline flight attendant.

After her flying days, Kelch became St. Louis’ first woman commissioned police officer to earn an expert medal in pistol marksmanship in 1951.

She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She was a member of Phi Lambda Theta, a national honorary society in education, and Beta Beta Beta, a national honorary society in biological science.

In 1964, she moved to Oxnard and taught at Oxnard High School and Ventura College.

She had been a den leader for the Cub Scouts and the Ventura County Boy Scouts Council. Kelch also was an avid bridge player and belonged to the Ventura Civic Bridge Club.

Later, she moved to Camarillo Springs Country Club Village. She was also a member of St. Mary Magdalen parish in Camarillo.

Kelch is survived by her son, Vincent Kelch, who is a pharmacist at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

Mass is scheduled at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mary Queen of Peace parish in Wester Groves, Mo. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Louis.

Arrangements are under the direction of Payton Mortuary in Oxnard.

Ventura County obituaries are compiled by Linda Herron. They are published free of charge as a public service to readers, based on information provided by mortuaries.