Carl Welch Bettcher, Jr., 92 of Southbury, formerly of Woodbury for many years, died peacefully at River Glen Health Care Center on Thursday, August 9, 2012 with friend and family at his side. He was the son of Carl Welch Bettcher, Sr. and Natalie Gates Bettcher of New Haven, CT. He retired in 1987 as president and owner of Van Dusen and Meyer, Inc. in Shelton, CT; a manufacturing plant of aircraft parts. Another business there he developed was Niaad, a manufacturer of gyroscopically-controlled roll stabilizers for yachts and small ships globally. He continued on there as a consultant for many more years. Mr. Bettcher's career included several years each as Plant Manager of PM&M Division of Textron in Waterbury; A.H. Nilsen Machine Co. in Shelton; Eastern Machine Screw of New Haven, and Assistant Plant Manager of Waterbury Tool Division of Vickers - a Sperry Co. He was also the Design and Production Engineer with General Electric of Schenectady, NY for nine years where he tested and serviced aircraft equipment for the USA in China, India and Guam during World War II with the Army Air Corps. Upon return, he set up peace-time production at their Bridgeport plant. Mr. Bettcher graduated from Stonybrook Academy and from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1941 with Degrees in both Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. One of his greatest stories he told of was his involvement with the Grenfell Mission on the ship George B. Cluett, to St. Anthony, Labrador and Newfoundland, Canada in the 1930s bringing supplies to missions in the area thru rough and violent seas. Cod was on the menu practically every day. His interests included sailing, flying his Cessna's, golfing at the Highfield Country Club of Middlebury as a member for years, and daily walks and hikes with his Irish Setters and Red and White Setter. He was a prolific writer and his notes reveal interest in conservation and investments. He valued his family and friends and was an extremely considerate and thoughtful person, giving much to Nonprofits, charitable organizations and schools. He was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Clair McLaughlin Bettcher and leaves behind his sister Patricia Bettcher Dockendorff of Cheshire; his daughters Jayma Gates Bettcher of Woodbury and Tami Bettcher Walker and her husband Tom of Middlebury; and his five grandchildren: Natalie Ann Collette of Oxford; W. Chandler Taff, II, of Boulder, CO; Caitlyn Walker of Boston, MA, Matthew Walker and Wylie Walker both of Middlebury. He is also predeceased by his wife of 10 years Agnes Moore Bettcher and leaves behind her three sons, James Moore of Rochester, N.Y, Parker Moore of Cape Coral, FL and John Moore of Schenectady, N.Y., and their families, along with numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. His family would also like to thank and honor Carl's longtime caregiver Gladys Poynton of Prospect for 10 years for her care, love, kindness and sense of humor, which were felt throughout the years by everyone she came in contact with and we will all be forever grateful. The family would also like to thank the wonderful nursing care that he received for eight years that he was residing at River Glen.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Carl W. and Clair M. Bettcher Scholarship Fund, c/o Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA, 01609, where in the 1980s, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year.

Cemetery: New North Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Services: A semi-private burial service will be held at the New North Cemetery in Woodbury on August 25 at 11: 00a.m.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.