Charles Louis Bechtold

Charles Louis Bechtold
02/29/1928 - 10/27/2012


Charles Louis Bechtold of Edison died at the Masonic Home in Burlington on Saturday,


October 27, 2012, at the age of 84. Born and raised in North Bergen, he had lived in Edison from l963 until moving to the Masonic Home.


Charles is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Helen Pauline (Lang) Bechtold, son Charles Frederick Bechtold and his wife Belinda of Whippany, daughter Linda Helen Bechtold of Westfield, granddaughter Emily Clauss of Westfield, granddaughter Christine Bechtold of Whippany and grandson Kevin Clauss of Westfield.


Charles always preferred to be called Charley. He was a graduate of Union Hill High School in 1946. He was involved in scouting, loved to target shoot and fish. Originally in the U.S. Army Reserves, Charley enlisted in the U.S. Army toward the end of World War II. He went through basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and was an airplane mechanic and crew chief at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.


After his discharge from the military, Charley received a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in l952, and a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1956. He became a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, National Honorary Chemical Society, and a member of Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honor Society. Charley was a Chemical Engineer with Colgate-Palmolive Company in Jersey City and Piscataway, New Jersey, for 42 years. He was a Senior research Engineer in Process Development with Household Specialties. He is a patentee in the field.


Charley Married Helen Pauline Lang on June 24, l956. They lived in Rutherford and then moved to Edison, New Jersey, in l963. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen for the past 49 years and a member of Perth Amboy Rifle Club (long closed), participating in local and state level small-bore matches. He also participated in the l973 National Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio.


Charles was a Past Master of Whitehead Lodge No. 184 F&AM in Cliffside Park, and current member of Euclid Lodge No. 136 F&AM in Hasbrouck Heights. He was a Grand Chaplain in the Grand Lodge of New Jersey in 2003, and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Northern New Jersey. He was also a member and officer in Guiding Star Chapter No. 36 Order of the Eastern Star in Cliffside Park, which later merged with Amore Chapter No. l76 in Bogota.


Due to the storm in the area we have yet to finalize funeral arrangements. We hope to have services at the end of the week. Please check back for updated information


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