Roll Call Tribute

Wayne Russell Bechler, Col. USAF (Ret) 

July 10, 1940 - November 12, 2025 

Colonel (Ret.) Wayne Russell Bechler, died peacefully in his sleep on November 12, 2025, in Georgetown, Texas. He was a faithful and loving husband, devoted father, father-in-law, uncle, cousin, grandfather, great-grandfather and trusted friend.

Funeral service: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, December 4, 2025, in Mount Olivet Chapel. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Wayne was born July 10, 1940, in San Antonio to Russell and Estelle Bechler. He grew up in San Antonio; Tucson, Arizona; Anchorage, Alaska; Middleton, Pennsylvania; Fort Worth and College Station. His father was in aircraft maintenance and engineering with the Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after 30 years. This started Wayne's lifelong desire to fly.

Wayne was baptized into the Christian faith at First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas. It was here he joined the boys' choir, beginning his lifelong love of singing. Sports were another passion. He played hockey and ice skated almost every day during the winters in Alaska. He played baseball from the age of seven years through his first year at A&M as a pitcher. Wayne also played basketball as the center in high school. He was an avid reader, an enthusiast of history and political thriller novels.

Wayne graduated from Carter Riverside High School, Fort Worth, Texas in 1958. In May 1962, he graduated from A&M College of Texas and was then commissioned into the United States Air Force. Wayne and Carloynne dated from 1957 until they married on June 2, 1962, at Grace Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, Texas.

The Air Force took them many places, full of adventures, challenges and joys. They lived in Lubbock, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Fort Worth, Texas; Bitburg, Germany; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Hampton, Virginia; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Alamogordo, New Mexico; Midwest City, Oklahoma; Biloxi, Mississippi; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Choctaw and Edmond, Oklahoma.

From his earliest years, Wayne felt drawn to aviation and a calling to serve his nation. It shaped the course of his life, the people that were blessed by him and where God was taking him. In 1966 from Danang, he flew over 100 missions into North Vietnam. Wayne returned to serve in Vietnam in 1973, this time from Udorn, Thailand. In 1983, his C-130 squadron participated in the rescue of American students on the island of Granada. Wayne also was part of Operation Desert Storm.

Although Wayne flew a number of planes throughout his career, he was a fighter pilot at heart and loved flying the F-4 Phantom and the F-15 Eagle. Over his 30 years in the Air Force, he served as a Fighter Pilot, Squadron Commander (C-130s), Fighter Liaison Officer, Air Force Section Chief (in Saudi Arabia), Director of Operations and Vice Commander of the 552 AWACS wing.

After retiring from active duty, he spent the next 28 years as the Site Manager for the E-3 Flight Crew Simulator Training Program supporting the next generation of pilots for the Air Force. He retired in 2021 from L3Harris which is now CAE Link, Oklahoma City.

Wayne's life was centered on the Air Force and his love of family. He impacted so many people at many levels, always encouraging, teaching and guiding them to excellence. He was a warrior, leader, mentor and friend. But more importantly, his life was centered on serving our Savior, which involved singing in church choirs, Bible studies, youth events, serving in church leadership and promoting a church inside of Saudi Arabia. He lived a life of faithfulness and duty. His family, friends and all that served with him will remember him for his wisdom, humor, kindness, honesty and his unwavering devotion to those he loved.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolynne Bechler; parents, Russell and Estelle Bechler; uncle and aunt, Scottie and Tillie Cross; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Kautz.

Wayne is survived by his daughter, Maria Hughes and her husband, Jimmy of Highland Village; son, Eric Bechler and his wife, Molly of Burnet; sister-in-law, Deanna Kautz of Weatherford; nephews, Chuck Kautz and wife, Rebekah, of Weatherford and Keith Kautz and his wife, Jennifer of Mansfield; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many cousins.

We will miss him dearly but are comforted knowing he is reunited with his wife of 63 years and better yet, at home with Christ our risen Lord and Savior.