David Bright Bechtold

Oct. 4, 1946 - Oct. 26, 2025

David Bright Bechtold passed away on October 26, 2025. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 4, 1946 - the youngest son of Max and Pauline Bechtold. He grew up in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and graduated from Kennett Consolidated High School. He graduated from Bucknell University and Tufts University, where he earned a PhD in Physical Chemistry. He achieved a 50-year American Chemical Society membership. While at Tufts, he met his wife Rebecca (Becky). After they married in November 1971, they moved to Pullman, Wash. to earn post-doctoral degrees at Washington State University. When they completed their academic careers, they moved to the Tri-Cities where Dave was employed at the Hanford site for 25 years, initially at the N-nuclear reactor plant and then finally the 222-S laboratory. He enjoyed traveling, hiking, long-distance biking, sailing, and cruising. He was an active member of the Fun Fit and Over 50 Club in the Tri-Cities. Dave took weekly climbs up Badger Mountain. He is survived by his wife; older brother Frederick Bechtold; two sisters Betsy Speakman and Susan Baker. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, Friends of Badger, or NW Public Broadcasting.