OBIT: John A. BEACHTEL, 1966, Family in Littlestown, Adams County, PA

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30-Year-Old Man Drowns At Area Lake

A 30-year-old California man, who was in Littlestown to attend the funeral of 
his father Monday, drowned yesterday afternoon in Lake Heritage, four miles east 
of Gettysburg.  The body of John A. Beachtel, San Bernardino, was found by a 
volunteer firemen recovery team about 8 p.m. yesterday.  Beachtel’s father, 
Clarence M. Beachtel, died last Friday and the funeral service was held Monday 
at Littlestown.  According to reports by firemen and witnesses, Beachtel was 
water skiing with friends when he fell into the water.  The boat made a pass and 
dropped a life preserver which Beachtel failed to grab.  A second pass to drop a 
life preserver was successful, witnesses aid, but after Beachtel had latched 
onto the preserver, he disappeared in the water.  Gettysburg firemen were called 
at 3 p.m. to organize a search party and at 7 p.m. they called Bonneauville, 
Littlestown and McSherrystown firemen to assist.  At 7:45 p.m., a call was set 
to Chambersburg and York for professional skin-divers but the body was recovered 
b y Michael Livelsberger of the McSherrystown Fire Co., at 8 p.m. with a 
grappling hook.  Firemen used five boats and 10 grappling hooks in their search.  
They had praise fore boat owners at the scene who volunteered use of their 
equipment.  Mrs. Beachtel flew from California to Washington, D.C., early this 
morning for the funeral.  Beachtel was a son of Mrs. Mary D. Dutterer Beachtel, 
Littlestown.  Other survivors are his wife, Mrs. Norma G. Harper Beachtel; two 
children, Pamela A. and Michael A., at home, and nine brothers and sisters, 
Martin G. and c. William Beachtel, Westminster R. D. 2; Mrs. Charles Good, 
Hanover R. D. 1, and Mrs. Earl Rebert, Mrs. Wilmer Dutterer, Mrs. Russell 
Pottorff Jr., Gene K. Beachtel, Mrs. David Crouse and Mrs. Rose Gervasio, 
Littlestown.  He was a member of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ, Silver Run, 
Md.  The funeral service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at the Little funeral 
home, Littlestown.  The Rev. Christopher J. Noss, his pastor, will officiate.  
Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home 
tomorrow evening.

Newspaper Unknown, Handwritten date of Aug 9, 1966