Obituary of Richard L Bentley

Richard "Lance" Bentley, 66, of South Waverly, PA, passed away on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at home, while holding hands with his loving wife Caroline.

He was born on December 27, 1950 in Waverly, NY, the son of the late Leo F. Bentley, Sr. and Jean (Garzia) Bentley.

Lance lived his entire life in the South Waverly Borough, where he remained an active leader for many years. He served on the South Waverly Borough Council from 1992 to 2009, holding positions on the Council including Vice-President and President. He was again President from 2010 until July 2017, when he resigned to be able to make lasting memories with his family and friends while battling his illness.

Some of the many projects Lance dedicated his time to include: working with Habitat for Humanity to bring new homes to the Borough, implementing numerous improvement projects to the Borough Municipal Building, planning yearly road projects to help keep roads on a cycle to be maintained, and serving as a member of the South Waverly Borough Planning Commission for approximately 20 years.

Lance was appointed as Chairman of the South Waverly Municipal Authority to facilitate the sewer system. He implemented a Borough Manager position for the first time in 2016. In 2013, he helped implement safety and security upgrades in the Borough Hall. In 2015, he formed a committee to start grant work to put a play area on Borough property, and in 2016 he helped with a new Veteran's Memorial.

After his work shifts ended at GE Railcar, Lance enjoyed his memberships at the Elks Lodge in Sayre, as well as the Sons of Italy. He enjoyed hunting season with his son Rob, and motorcycle rides over the years with his wife Caroline. His most recent adventure took him to celebrate the Air Force retirement of his daughter Deena's husband, Eric Culver. One of Lance's favorite spots was he and Caroline's home, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters and brother, their spouses, and many nieces and nephews, enjoying the swimming pool and patio.

He was preceded in death by father-in-law, Robert C. Bidlack, Sr., nephew, Matthew Barrett, and grand-niece, Adeline Rose Barrett.

Lance is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Caroline, children, Deena (Eric) Bentley Culver, Robert (Michelle) Bentley, and Tracy Bentley Lynch (Michael Berryman), grandchildren, Tiffany (Matthew) Bentley Senese, Jessica (Bryan) Bentley Avery, Derrick Bentley, Taylor Culver (Torie Leinen), Darien Culver, Reagan Lynch, Katie Lynch, Kailey Bentley, and Emma Bentley, great-grandchildren, Zach Senese, Rylee Lantz, Aiden Avery, Elise Senese, Spencer Avery, and McKenna Culver, brother, Leo (Lynette) Bentley, Jr., sisters, Carol (Harold) Wells, and Lorie (Rick) Douglas, brothers-in-law, Robert Bidlack (Linda Rossi), Edward (Vicky) Bidlack, and James Bidlack, sisters-in-law, Jane (Michael) Bonning, Emily (Norm) Woodcock, and Marilyn Bidlack, mother-in-law Mary Alice Bidlack, many special nieces and nephews, and special extended-family-member Christopher W. Lynch.

Friends and family may call on Monday, September 11, 2017, from 12pm-2pm, and from 6pm-8pm at the Jay E. Lowery Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 225 South Main Street, Athens, PA. A memorial service will follow at the funeral home at 8pm with Pastor Gary Culver of Emory Chapel officiating.

Memorial donations may be made in Lance's memory to The South Waverly Playground Fund Club, c/o Valorie Huckabee, 2523 Pennsylvania Ave., South Waverly, PA 18840, or to Guthrie Hospice, 421 Tomahawk Rd., Towanda, PA 18848.