Richard Arden Bechtold, age 88, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, surrounded by his loving wife and family. Born on February 24, 1933, in Warren, OH, Dick was the son of Harry and Eleanor Bechtold. Dick’s brother, Dennis, and sister Ann preceded his passing.
Dick served in the Air Force during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in October 1955. He earned his Engineering Degree from Youngstown State University in Ohio, and worked as an engineer at Delphi Packard Electric, Warren, Ohio for 20 years. He was recruited by Max Draime (founder of Stoneridge Electronics (SRI), formerly Alphabet, Inc.) as a partner, responsible for expanding their vehicle wiring systems assembly facilities throughout the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. He retired in 1991 and settled in the Sarasota Bradenton area where he and Maggie have resided for the last 28 years. Dick was a hands-on leader and earned the respect of those that were fortunate to work with him, with the rare skill of making everyone around him better at what they did.
Dick is survived by his beloved wife Margaret (Maggie) Law Bechtold, happily married February 16, 1957 (64 years), daughters Barbara Ann Brinton and husband David from North Carolina, Susan Lynn Rounsavall and husband Michael from North Carolina, and son Richard Eugene Bechtold, a resident of Lakewood Ranch, FL; six grandchildren, Michael Charles (Leigh) and Kevin Richard Rounsavall, Richard Corey (Jessica) and Ryan John (Mariah) Blair, Richard Arden (Amanda) and Jack Reagan Bechtold; three great grandchildren, Grace Margaret Rounsavall, Grayson Arden Blair, and Jack Levi Blair; along with many wonderful and dear extended family members and friends.
Dick was a true family man; his family always came first. His sense of humor was just one of his outstanding traits. He loved designing smart home systems with visually appealing architectural features, and was an early adopter of home automation in his homes in Howland, OH, Burlington, NC, and Sarasota, FL. Dick and Maggie’s home in Sarasota, FL was featured in Electronic House magazine in the year 2000. He was a Sarasota area breakfast connoisseur, and never passed up covering the bill for meals with family and friends. Dick defined a “life well lived.”
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on October 23, 2021, 2:00 p.m. at Harvest United Methodist Church located at 14305 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
Dick will be laid to rest at the Sarasota National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be donated to Tidewell Hospice, Inc. in Sarasota, www.tidewellfoundation.org or The National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (NPCF).
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