Al Bechtel, 87, died Jan. 13, 2012, at the VNA Hospice House, Vero Beach.
He was born in Philadelphia, coming to Vero Beach 10 years ago from Palm Beach Gardens.
He was drafted into the Army where he spent three months in Camp Lee, Va., with the 25th Battalion before applying for Officers Candidate School in the Transportation Corps.
After graduating OCS, he served in the New York and Philadelphia ports as the loading officer before being transferred to the Azores, where he served as the first lieutenant of the Ports of Tericiara and Santa Maria.
He worked for the Sun Oil Co. as a mail clerk before moving to the Traffic Department.
After leaving the Army, he attended Temple University where he earned a degree in economics and business.
Before retiring, he was executive vice president of Radnor Corp., a real estate development subsidiary of Sun Oil Co.
Later in life, he founded Golf Investment Advisors, where he performed feasibility studies throughout the United States and internationally.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Helen; son, Steve; daughter, Janet; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Youth for Christ, 929 Seventh Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Arrangements are by Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory.
A guestbook is available at www.seawindsfh.com.
