IN MEMORIAM
Bobby Bechtel
KBB staff, board and volunteers would like to honor one of our founding members who passed away in October – Georgia Roberta (Bobby) Williams Bechtel. Bobby was a resident of Melbourne, FL since 1952. She was a friend and mentor to many, as well as a loved and respected community leader. Bobby was instrumental in the founding of Keep Brevard Beautiful. Bobby was married for 60 years to Jack Bechtel, MD, and was also the beloved mother of six, grandmother of 13, and great-grandmother of 18. She was a native of Stateburg, SC, and the second youngest in a family one boy and nine girls! She graduated from Sumter High School in 1943 and the University of South Carolina in 1946. Bobby majored in journalism and education. Bobby taught school in Atlanta, GA for two years before the births of her six children. While the children were growing up, Bobby was a very active community member, serving in many capacities, including being a member of Melbourne City Council and the Brevard County School Board.
A celebration of her life was held on Saturday, January 13, at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne. Donations in her memory made me made to the church or to Keep Brevard Beautiful.
Keep Brevard beautiful will be forever grateful to Bobby for her time and perseverance in starting our organization. In the summer of 1980 Bobby Bechtel spotted an article in Time Magazine that described the successes that Keep America Beautiful was achieving with its Clean Communities System. Local units of KAB were reducing litter in their hometowns by changing people’s attitudes toward cleanliness and beauty generating community pride. A meeting of citizens interested in starting a local chapter of KAB was held at the Chamber with Doc Strawbridge’s encouragement January 21, 1981. It was decided to incorporate as a countywide organization with the initial effort in the Melbourne-Palm Bay area.
Bobby will be sorely missed.
Arleen Rice
Arleen Rice, one of KBB’s founding members and a longstanding member of the South Action Team, passed away on May 11, 2018. Our staff, board and volunteers will miss her dearly. Arleen will always be remembered for her many years of volunteering, her deep and abiding compassion, and her friendliness and outgoing personality. Arleen was born in Harrisburg, PA and raised in Dayton, Ohio with her two brothers Clarkson and Curtis. She met her husband James Rice while in college, graduated with an education/teaching degree, and was married shortly afterwards. The couple made their way to the Space Coast of Florida where Jim took a job with NASA. Arleen taught school at both DeLaura Middle School and Satellite High until the birth of their daughter Nicole.
Arleen dedicated the rest of her life to her volunteer efforts and leadership positions within the community. She served as a member of the Salvation Army, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, the Satellite Beach Women’s Club, Meals on Wheels, and Keep Brevard Beautiful, just to name a few of the organizations. Her involvement with KBB helped to propel the organization forward. We will all remember the exciting South Action Team Christmas luncheon she organized every year during the holidays.
Arleen will be sorely missed by her family, friends and community. Her memorial service was held on June 2 at the Trinity Wellsprings Church. Friends and family came out to honor this very active, special and dedicated lady.