Master Richard F. Becker

Who was Richard F. Becker?

Master Richard Fulton Becker was a young second-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on June 26, 1910, in Kondaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India, Richard was just 1 (one) year old when he embarked on the ill-fated voyage that would become one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Early Life and Family Background

A Missionary Family in India

Richard F. Becker was born into a family dedicated to missionary work:

• Father: Allen Oliver Becker (1872-1956), a Lutheran pastor from Michigan
• Mother: Nellie E. Becker, née Baumgardner (1876-1961), originally from Ohio

His parents married on September 20, 1898, in Ohio before moving to India to pursue missionary work. Richard was the youngest of four siblings:

1. Ruth Elizabeth Becker (1899-1990)
2. Luther Allen (1905-1907)
3. Marion Louise Becker (1907-1944)

The Journey to America

Why Did the Beckers Leave India?

In early 1912, young Richard fell ill. Concerned for his health, doctors advised the family to return to the United States, where Richard would have a better chance of recovery. This medical recommendation set in motion the events that would lead the Beckers to board the Titanic.

Titanic Voyage Details

• Embarkation: Southampton on April 10, 1912
• Ticket Number: 230136
• Fare: £39
• Class: Second Class
• Cabin: F8

Mrs. Becker, along with her three children - Richard, Marion, and Ruth - left India, leaving Mr. Becker behind to conclude his affairs before joining them later in America.

The Night of the Disaster

How Did the Becker Family Survive?

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Mrs. Becker gathered her three children and made their way to the upper decks. The family’s survival story unfolded as follows:

1. They waited in a public room, likely on A-deck or the boat deck.
2. Braving the cold, they moved to the open deck.
3. A crewman bundled Richard and Marion into Lifeboat 11.
4. Their mother followed them into the same lifeboat.
5. Ruth, Richard’s older sister, was placed in the next lifeboat, number 13.

“Richard and his sister Marion were bundled into a lifeboat (number 11) by a crewman and followed by their anxious mother.”

This quick action by the crew and Mrs. Becker’s determination ensured the entire family’s survival.

Life After the Titanic

How Did Richard’s Life Unfold After the Disaster?

After surviving the Titanic sinking, Richard and his family successfully made it to America. His father joined them in 1913, reuniting the family. Richard’s post-Titanic life was marked by several significant events:

• By 1920, the family had settled in Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio.
• Richard later became a singer and eventually a social welfare worker.
• In 1943, he married Eva Marie Anderson (b. 1912).
• They had a son, Richard Fulton (1938-2004).
• The 1940 census shows Richard and his family living in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Personal Life and Family

Richard’s personal life was marked by both joy and loss:

• First Marriage: Eva Marie Anderson (married 1943, widowed 1942)
• Second Marriage: Jessie Arline Armstrong (1912-1974)
• Children:
  1. Richard Fulton (1938-2004)
  2. Judith Anne (1943-2010, married Joseph McDonough)
  3. Deborah Elizabeth (b. 1948, later married David Ehrlich)

Legacy and Final Years

Richard F. Becker lived a full life, surviving one of history’s most famous disasters as an infant and going on to have a family of his own. He passed away on September 6, 1975, in Peoria, Illinois, at the age of 65 (sixty-five). He was laid to rest in Swan Lake Memory Gardens, Peoria.

As one of the youngest survivors of the Titanic, Richard’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind the tragedy, and the resilience of those who lived to tell the tale.