Gary L. Bechtel

BENNINGTON -- Mr. Gary L. Bechtel, 72, a resident of South Stream Road, Bennington, died unexpectedly Sunday, June 15, 2003 as a result of a tractor accident at his home.

Born April 12, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of the son of the late Gordon and Inez (Granquist) Bechtel. He was a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and Ohio University. Mr. Bechtel was a U.S. Army Korean Conflict veteran.

Mr. Bechtel married the former Sandra (Bixler) Peckham in Irvington, N.Y. on Aug. 3, 1986.

In earlier years he was general manager of sales on the eastern seaboard at Glidden Paint Company in Reading, Pa. and later was vice president of sales in New York at Smith Corona. In 1983 Gary and his wife Sandy founded Telemar Data Systems and later South Stream Enterprises. For the last four years Mr. Bechtel was employed at AFLAC Insurance as regional and district sales coordinator.

Mr. Bechtel was a proud member of the Republican Party.

His hobbies and interests included hunting, his farm and his horses.

Survivors include his wife Sandy Bechtel of Bennington; three sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Jill Bechtel of Atlanta, Ga., Brett and Aleksandra Bechtel of Wallingford, Conn., Eric and Felicia Bechtel of Upper Saddle River, N.J.; daughter and son-in-law, Shari and Paul Ouellette of Trumbull, Conn.; three stepchildren and their spouses, Linda Peckham of Chicago, Robert and K.C. Peckham of Ridgefield, Conn., and Tom and Elizabeth Peckham of Tucson, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren, Alexa, Ashley, Kelsey, Talia, Daniel, Preston, Sean, Victoria, Carter, Taylor, Tristan, Todd, and Michelle; a brother, Gordon Bechtel of Gainesville, Fla. Mr. Bechtel was predeceased by a son, Gary Scott Bechtel.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, June 19 at 10 a.m. from the Irvington Presbyterian Church on North Broadway, Irvington, N.Y. with Rev. David Harkness officiating.

Burial will take place in the family lot in the Frederick Jenkins Memorial Garden, Irvington, N.Y.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Bechtel may be made to AFLAC Cancer Center in Atlanta, Ga. through the office of the Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201.