Thursday, March 28, 2024

Obituary of Thompson S. Bechdel Jr., 89

Name of Deceased Thompson S. Bechdel Jr.
Age 89
Date of Death 07/13/2015
Date of Birth 10/01/1925
Funeral Home Kader-Neff Funeral Home

Thompson S. Bechdel Jr., 89 of Blanchard, passed away Monday, July 13, 2015 at the Susque-View Nursing Home in Lock Haven, Pa. He was born on October 1, 1925 at home in Blanchard, Pa. the son of the late Thompson S. & Helen Myers Bechdel.

He attended Lock Haven High School but left in 1943 to join the U.S. Army as a T5 truck driver and a combat engineer, earning 2 bronze stars and participating in the Rhine crossing and the Battle of the Bulge where he said “the waters ran red”.

Coming out of the service in 1946 with a 94 mile an hour fast ball, he played in the county baseball leagues in Blanchard and Howard, often being asked to come to Rockview Penetentiary to pitch against the prison team. After an arm injury, he resorted to the knuckle ball and retired from playing local baseball after 20 years.

During this time, he also had a love of roller skating at the local rink at Hecla Park in Mingoville where he found and pursued the true love of his life, Jane I. Confer, whom he married on June 21, 1947. Jane survives at home.

Working as a butcher for 6 years at the Winner Packing Plant in Lock Haven, he left one week prior a giant boiler explosion, feeling extremely lucky to have avoided an accident that killed several people. He then worked 6 years for Crissman's Packing plant before moving on to spend 26 years at Piper Aircraft before its closing. He then worked 6 years at Champion Rebuilders before his retirement.

He was an avid hunter an fisherman his entire life, tramping the woods of Beech Creek Mountain and skirting along the Bald Eagle and Marsh Creek streams.

Along with is wife he is survived by three sons; Timothy (Carol) of Mackeyville, Jerald “Jed” (Pamela) of Phoenix, AZ and Roger (Christine) of Clintondale, nine grandchildren; Meecha, Jay, Adam, Grant, Cole, Colby, Cody, Nathaniel, and Elijah and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at the Blanchard Church of Christ, 161 Beach Street, Blanchard at 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Russel J. Moldovan officiating. Friends and family will be received from 11:00 – 1:00 prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blanchard Church of Christ, PO Box 388, Blanchard, Pa. 16826.