Ken and Audrey Beckley, namesakes of the state-of-the-art broadcast studio at The Media School in Franklin Hall are well-known and loved at IU. Ken, a familiar face in central Indiana, is a former journalist and broadcaster, IU Alumnus and now, a COVID survivor, mourning the loss of his wife of more than 50 years, Audrey. When COVID hit, they took seriously the CDC COVID-19 guidelines. Though active and fit, their ages put them in a high risk category, and Audrey had been living multiple sclerosis since the age of 25. But despite all of their precautions, both Ken and Audrey tested positive for COVID-19 on in mid-August.

Audrey first knew something was wrong on Sunday, August 9th, when she told Ken her legs were hurting.

The next day, she was unable to move them. As she tried to get out of bed, she fell into a dresser. She went straight to the emergency room.

That same day, Ken experienced chills, body aches, and a headache. Two days later, his symptoms were gone, but Audrey was still having trouble walking.

It was not until the next afternoon, Wednesday, that Ken and Audrey got tested for COVID-19.

On Thursday, Audrey woke up in a state of confusion and still unable to move her legs. The medics once again took her to the ER.

She was hospitalized, alone. The couple received their positive results on Friday August 14th. Ken and the Beckley family could not see Audrey at the hospital due to the virus.

“She never left the hospital,” Ken said.

On August 19th, he said his forever goodbye to her over Facetime.

Today, Ken said he is reminded of Audrey by little triggers. He said her purse remains on the chair in their living room from the day she passed.

He finds peace knowing she is not in pain from MS or COVID-19, reflecting on the lives they shared, and with love and support from friends and family.

“They’re there at the snap of a finger to come and help me with anything.”

Audrey hugging one of her grandchildren

Audrey with grandson

Ken and Audrey at Memorial Stadium

Audrey on a blimp ride

Ken and Audrey wedding, 1964

Ken and Audrey loved traveling, their family and grandchildren, and spending time together for 50+ years.

The Beckley’s are IU alumni and have given back to the University in countless ways. They provided support for the Beckley Media Technology Fund, funded two ongoing Beckley media internships with WTIU and WFIU, a Little 500 scholarship and supported speciality funds at the IU Alumni Association. They also provided financial support to the IU Cinema, Varsity Club, Distinguished Alumni Service Award Club, and Eskenazi Museum of Art. They were active with the Alumni Association and were Co-past President of the University Club at IU Bloomington. Ken continues to serve.

Ken is warning others of the severity of the pandemic. He wrote this article for the Indystar in efforts to raise awareness of how catastrophic COVID-19 is.

“This is a killer. This virus exists for one purpose, and that is to kill everybody it can.”