Sebring Ohio Historical Society
Sebring, Ohio 44672
Purchased the former E.H. Sebring China Company in 1934 along with John Briggs  and William
Habenstreit. They bought the plant from a Youngstown bank for less than $30,000 with a small down
payment. On June 1, 1934 the company was incorporated. Renamed the site The Royal China Company and
became its head.  They had three plants, the others were in East Palestine, Ohio and Logansport, Indiana.
She was affectionately known as the Queen of China, and employees called her Queen Bee.  Beatrice was a
successful business woman in a man's world, starting the pottery business during the depression and
struggling to make Royal China a leading dinnerware company.  She was supportive in the community and
organizations such as the American Red Cross.  She provided help to many people monetarily without
Christmas was another holiday where she was very giving to people in need with food and money.  Each
year on her birthday, in October, she would ask God for one more year to continue her life.  Her friends
would celebrate with her on that occasion, just one year at a time.    She served as an elder at the First
Presbyterian Church in Sebring, being supportive of the pastors of this church for many years.  She was a
driving force in getting a new church building.  In the 1960's, she established the B.L. Miller Scholarship
for students at Sebring High School.  This scholarship still exists today in her memory.   Donated funds of
$20,000 in 1967 to help build B.L. Miller Elementary School, named in her honor.   She was briefly
married and divorced.   She adopted a daughter, Trelwany B. Baker, of Ashtabula and had two
grandchildren.  Bea retired in 1969 and sold the plant to the Jeannette Glass Co., of Pennsylvania.  It was in
turn purchased by Coca Cola Bottling Co, and then to an investors group from Boston.  Bea died November
21, 1979 at the age of 80 and is buried at Grandview Cemetery in Sebring.