Frederick "Fred" Frank Bechtoldt
November 16, 1932 ~ February 16, 2023
Born in:
Queens County, New York
Resided in:
Mills River, North Carolina
Asheville Butterfly TrailFrederick “Fred” Frank Bechtoldt, 90, of Mills River, died Thursday, February 16, 2023 at The Lodge at Mills River.
Born in Queens County, NY, he was the husband of the late Louise Madeline (DeNigris) Bechtoldt, and the son of the late Frederick Frank and Fay (Schoenfield) Bechtoldt. He was also preceded in death by a niece, Marianne Eggers.
Fred was an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict, and was the President of the Mountain Flyers Club at the Asheville Airport.
He is survived by three nephews: Robert DeNigris and his wife Hilda, Paul Mangini and his wife Janet, and Stephen DeNigris and his wife Diane; one niece: Marilyn Mucciolo and her husband Jim; and a number of great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian from 6 to 8 PM. Burial will be private.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
Services
For those who wish to pay their respects: March 3, 2023 6:00 pm - March 12, 2026 8:00 pm
Room: Dogwood
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://grocefuneralhome.com
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Will truly miss you and our long conversations. You were one of a kind.
Is this the Jeff Wommack that I knew at Mission ER, This is Barlowe from the Sheriff’s Dept.
♥️ So true, Jeff!
So many great memories over the past 30-years. Miss you Fred.
Fred, you were a true aviator. I’ll miss our flights and lunches together.
Thank you for your service young man, God bless you and yours, God’s speed…
Fred was a decades long Mills River/AVL area resident who loved and treasured the mountain beauty surrounding his home. A Korean War vet, exceptional aeronautical engineer with extraordinary intellect (at 90 he still referenced the square root of 3, 1.732, as the year George Washington was born, 1732), teacher of many flight students (who memorialized him at the Osh Kosh Aviation Museum years ago), opera enthusiast, avid tennis player (who scoffed at pickle ball!), NC waterfall seeker, Duke basketball fan, and a zealous dinner partner, always up for a great meal and eager for lively current events conversation. He missed The Met, but live- streamed performances when that became available, meanwhile enjoying season tickets to the AVL symphony for many years. He led a long fulfilled life with his devoted wife and soul mate, Louise, for over 63 years. RIP together 🙏🏽♥️
Love and miss you both, always. Until we meet again at the next level, my friends.
I forgot Baseball! Many Fred stories and his love of the game! 🧢⚾️🏟️
Fred – you made my life better and became part of our family. We loved Louise more .. but so did you! Thank you for all you did for my mom, kids, and the entire flying community in Western North Carolina. You made flying fun and safe for so many pilots!!! It’s amazing how many people loved you and your stories about everything from flying to NYC Opera. Wow … what a great human being. Love you buddy, Tony McLean Brown http://www.HappyGuidetoaShortLife.com