Bobbie Lee Bechtel

Life Sketch for Bobbie Bechtel

Bobbie Lee Bechtel, 95, passed away at her home in Newton on Thursday, January 17^th, 2019.

Bobbie was born on January 9^th, 1924 in Viola, Arkansas to George and Amy LeVicie (Chadwick) Spurlock.

Bobbie married Norman W. Bechtel on June 27^th, 1948 in Wichita, Kansas. They were married for fifty-seven years until his death in 2005.

Bobbie grew up in the northern Arkansas and southern Missouri Ozarks during the Depression. At age one, her mother passed away, leaving her father to raise Bobbie, her brother David (age six) and sister Lois (age ten). They were a close-knit and loving family, but times were hard as George’s sharecropping work constantly uprooted the family. Bobbie found childhood fun through athletic activity, playing baseball and softball while attending a series of one-room school houses. Following the death of her older sister Lois, Bobbie at age ten took over the household management and she quickly learned to cook and bake on the old wood stove. In 1941, when she was seventeen, her father passed away and Bobbie worked hoeing and picking cotton and as a nanny to survive during this difficult time. Bobbie’s older brother David joined the Army Air Corps and soon shipped out to the European theatre. After receiving vocational training as a machinist, Bobbie moved to Wichita alone in 1943 to start a new life and career working in the aircraft plants supporting the war effort. She initially worked for Cessna, and later also for Boeing building B-29 Superfortress bombers, riveting and installing the self-sealing fuel bladders in the wings. In 2016, Bobbie toured the restored B-29 “Doc” and inspected some rivet work. Always a stickler for quality, she commented, “Those rivets might have been OK for some people but they wouldn’t have been my work.”

Bobbie was an independent lady, a compassionate caregiver for her father and husband, and a very friendly and gregarious person. She attended First Mennonite Brethren Church in Wichita for many years where she enjoyed serving in the Wednesday evening meal ministry. Bobbie enjoyed waterskiing, camping, and playing tennis with Norman. Following Norman’s death, she moved to Newton, KS where she attended Meridian Baptist Church. She enjoyed eating out and drinking coffee with friends but most of all she loved being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was a tremendous cook and enjoyed hosting family gatherings. She regularly whipped up big family dinners into her nineties, including homemade ham loaf, zwieback and the best cherry pie anywhere.

She is survived by her daughter: Sherry Clark (Spencer); grandchildren: Evan (Julie) Clark, Adrian (Abigail) Clark, and Tristan Clark; and four great-grandchildren (Darcey, James, William, and Carmen).  She was preceded in death by her husband: Norman W. Bechtel; parents: George and Amy LeVicie Spurlock; siblings: Alfred, Mary, David, and Lois Spurlock.

A public visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., Monday, January 21^st at Petersen Funeral Home. A graveside committal will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 22^nd at the Halstead City Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 22^nd, 2019 at Meridian Baptist Church in Newton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made at petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com. Donations will support of the mission work of Holly and Grady Nace with Mission Aviation Fellowship.