George C. Bechtel

George C. Bechtel
of Vestal, N.Y.
A tribute to my husbandMy husband, George Charles "Dutch" Bechtel, was born September 15, 1923 at the Ashland Hospital, Fountain Springs, Pa. He died on Saturday, December 24, 2005 at his home in Vestal, N.Y. Dutch was the last member of his immediate family. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Mina (Burmeister) Bechtel; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Catherine Bechtel, Marie and Edward "Ted" Dempsey, Ruth and Earl Starr, Grace and Thomas Eagen, Jr.; a brother and sister-in-law, John and Helen Bechtel; his in-laws, John and Pearl Lindenmuth. We were high school sweethearts and married in 1943 in Ashland, Pa. We had over 62 years together and happy that we didn't hit too many bumps along the way. We reared three great children, our son, Lee and his wife, Donna, Rush, Pa.; our daughter, Nancy and her husband, Bob Olmstead, Montrose, Pa.; our son, Carl and his wife, Rita, Vestal; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren, Brian and Tracy Bechtel, and Casey, Carly, and Derrek, Titusville, Fla., Lisa (Bechtel) and Bryan Zuver and Marisa, Bryan and Connor, West Palm Beach, Fla., Cindy (Bechtel) and Brian, Baxter, and Brandon and Amanda, Endicott, Matthew Bechtel, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and Michael Bechtel, Vestal. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; three sisters-in-law, Verna White, Havertown, Pa., Margaret Hunter, Williamsburg, Va., Hazel Paul, Lavell, Pa. Dutch was a strong man of principle and told it like it was, even if you didn't want to hear it. Tough on the outside, but gentle and caring on the inside. I was the one that got us involved in projects, but he was always there to support me. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Endicott. He retired from Singer-Link in 1985, after 30 years of service. He served his country in WW II, with the 722nd Military Police Bn, serving in England and France. Before moving to New York, we lived in Ashland, Lawton, and Rushville, Pa. He was a member and former fire chief of Rush Township Fire Company, Lawton, Pa. He also retained membership in the Washington Fire Company, Ashland, Pa., having joined in 1947, when he came home from the war. He was a life member of American Legion Post 89 of Vestal. He also was a charter and life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8808, Vestal, in which he actively held office and served as Post Commander several times, the latest being at the time of his death. He was an honorary member and past vice-president of Vestal Senior Citizen's Club. He enjoyed his time at the Senior Center, chatting with his friends at the coffee table, before lunch. He was a good husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor and friend to all who knew him. He was there for anyone who needed help. He passed to his eternal home on December 24, 2005. May our dear Lord grant him peace. Rest well, honey until we are together again. My love as always, Your "Beck"
Funeral and interment services will be held, Saturday, 3 p.m. from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 E. Main St., Endicott. The Rev. Janice Devine, co-pastor of his church, will officiate. Interment will be at the convenience of the family at the family mausoleum in Lawton, Pa. The family will receive friends at the memorial home, Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The family will provide flowers. Expressions of sympathy in George's memory may be made to the VFW Post 8808, c/o William Oliver, 124 Park Ave., Vestal, N.Y. 13850, or to the Vestal Senior Citizen's Club, c/o Sandra Tillotson, President, 309 Parkwood Rd., Vestal, N.Y. 13850. Thanks go to the many doctors, nurses and hospice caregivers who took such good care of Dutch. Special thanks for the loving care he received from his family members.