James Bechtelheimer

James Bechtelheimer, 86, died August 16, 2010 at Twin Rivers Health and Rehab in Arkadelphia. Active in many areas of community service, he was generally known by most friends and associates as Beck. Mr. Bechtelheimer was a member of the First Baptist Church for over fifty years, where he served as a deacon. Mr. Bechtelheimer was a graduate of Camden High School, class of '41, and at an early age was a Camden News paper carrier. Before graduation he started writing sports for the newspaper. This was interrupted by a hitch in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, South Pacific area. Upon discharge he returned to the Camden News writing sports and working in the production department. Later he had a city news beat and also was named Sports Editor. For many years Beck was the public address announcer for football games and track meets at Coleman Stadium. He also did some part-time announcing football and basketball games for local radio. He served as announcer and official scorekeeper for the Kraftsmen semi-pro baseball team at IPCO Park. Mr. Bechtelheimer was a member of the Camden Jaycees, a winner of the Distinguished Service Award, and served as a board member and a president of the Camden Boys Club. He was a Quorum Court member for 12 years and served on the City Historic Commission. He was a 25 year veteran of the Camden Fire Department (volunteer) retiring as a captain. Before retiring from the Camden News, Beck also operated the Cam-Ark Sporting Goods Store for27 years. In retirement, he was a charter member of the Ouachita Ramblin' Sams RV club. In retirement years Beck and his wife, Dora, enjoyed the recreational vehicle lifestyle and wrote summer RV columns for the News for twenty years. Beck was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-three years, Dora. He is survived by two daughters, Cheryl Taylor and husband, George of Salado, Texas and Sheila Atkinson and husband, Mike of Arkadelphia, Ark.; five grandchildren, Matthew Atkinson and wife, Natalie, of Fayetteville, Ark., Michelle DeJanes and husband, Burke of Kansas City, Mo., Amanda Atkinson of Arkadelphia, Ark., Oakley Atkinson of Arkadelphia, Ark., and Beck Taylor and wife, Julie of Spokane, Wash., four great-grandchildren, Zachery Taylor, Lauren Taylor, and Chloe Taylor of Spokane, Wash., and Ethan DeJanes of Kansas City, Mo.; and one brother, Robert and his wife, Dottie of El Cajun, CA. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, August 20, 6 to 8 p.m. Mr. Bechtelheimer's service will be Saturday, 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Camden with Dr. Richard Piles officiating. To sign the online guest register visit www.proctorfuneralhome.com.