Obituary of Ervin Bechtler

FAIR PLAY: Ervin Eugene "Gene" Bechtler, 85, of Fair Play, SC, died Wednesday, August 22, 2012. He was one of six children of the late William Frank and Ora Mae Sullivan Bechtler of Rock Hill. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Eugenia Taylor Bechtler, his daughter Ora Bechtler, his sister Mary Edna Gay, and his brothers Pete Bechtler and Tom Bechtler. Surviving are: his girlfriend, Dorothy Cox; daughters and sons-in-law, Claudia and Marion Smith, Mary Alice Bechtler, Genie and Dave Miles, and Ann Chaffee; grandsons, Thrane Smith and Laurice Smith (wife Teresa); sister, Frances Davidson; and brother, Marion Bechtler. Gene served in the US Navy during World War II and later attended the SC Opportunity School and Coyne Electrical School of Chicago. He retired from McKesson Drug Company. Until his health declined, he was actively involved in the Methodist church. He was a charter member of Platt Springs UMC and later a member of Bethel UMC and Westminster UMC. Funeral services will be conducted by the Reverend Ken Owens and the Reverend Ed Mainous at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 25, 2012, in the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073. Burial will follow at Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive visitors at 10:00am at the funeral home prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Westminster United Methodist Church, 925 East Main Street, Westminster, SC 29693.