Charles R. “Chuck” Bechler of Walla Walla, Wash., former longtime Umatilla resident, died on Aug. 5, 2017 at his home in Walla Walla at the age of 77.
He was born on Nov. 16, 1939 in Sac County, Iowa, the youngest of four children, to George and Margaret Smith Bechler.
He graduated from high school and received a teaching scholarship to go to college because his mother was a teacher. After two years of college, he decided that teaching was not for him. His cousin got him a job with the Corps of Engineers in December 1959, where he worked in construction and surveying for the first 15 years of his career. He married Nancy Warner and they had four children, Lauri, J. Deane, Amy and David, before later divorcing.
In 1972, he became a powerhouse operator in Umatilla. He married Hattie Crewdson in 1976, adding Tom, Trina and Richard (who passed away in 1996) to this blended family. He retired from the Corps of Engineers in 1994 after working throughout the Northwest, as well as Wyoming, Arkansas, North Dakota and Alaska.
Chuck and Hattie then started a new adventure, RVing, on Nov. 26, 1994, heading to Arizona. They took a break from RVing in 1999 to move to Mattawa, Wash. to raise their grandson, Mat Waddell, for three years before he joined the United States Navy. They resumed RVing in 2001 and continued until 2012, when they settled in Walla Walla, Wash. to be near family. During their 20 years of travels, they experienced many adventures and visited many places, including castles in Germany and the caves in Virginia. They saw a lot of the country and enjoyed many concerts and spent every winter going south with their dog, Boo Boo.
Chuck enjoyed biking, traveling, walking, fishing, hiking, and especially playing pool with the “boys” at the senior center. He had a lifetime full of memories filled with love, loss and family.
He is survived by his wife, Hattie Bechler, Walla Walla, Wash.; children, Lauri Bechler and J. Deane Coombs, Umatilla, Amy Omstead, Scappoose, David Bechler, Bothel, Wash., and Tom Waddell and Trina Parrish of Walla Walla, Wash.; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, a step-son and a grandson.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston.
Burial will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Umatilla.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
