The Napa Valley Register
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Former Napa resident Melvin "Mel" Gay Bentz, 71, died here July 15 of cancer. Mr. Bentz was born on Feb. 5, 1922, in Fremont, Neb. He came to Napa in 1945 after serving on a destroyer during World War II. He married the former Patricia Casey in June of 1945, and they later divorced. He married Laura Wickland in January of 1959. Patricia passed away in 1987 and Laura passed away in 1985. Mr. Bentz operated the Knotty Pine Restaurant, which was once located across from Napa High School. He also built and operated the original Napa Furniture with Mike Corey in the 1940s. After selling the furniture store, Mr. Bentz worked for Al Kastner for many years as a car salesman. He also worked as a carpenter helping to build Pueblo Park homes and the older Bel Aire homes. Mr. Bentz is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Petersen and Cynthia Douglass, and one son, Ribhard Douglass, all of Napa; a brother Earl of Valley, Neb.; a sister Lila Bogart of Moses Lake, Wash.; five grandchildren; and numberous nieces and nephews. He wa predeceased by a son, John Douglass, in 1976.
Military Information: PHM2, US NAVY
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Former Napa resident Melvin "Mel" Gay Bentz, 71, died here July 15 of cancer. Mr. Bentz was born on Feb. 5, 1922, in Fremont, Neb. He came to Napa in 1945 after serving on a destroyer during World War II. He married the former Patricia Casey in June of 1945, and they later divorced. He married Laura Wickland in January of 1959. Patricia passed away in 1987 and Laura passed away in 1985. Mr. Bentz operated the Knotty Pine Restaurant, which was once located across from Napa High School. He also built and operated the original Napa Furniture with Mike Corey in the 1940s. After selling the furniture store, Mr. Bentz worked for Al Kastner for many years as a car salesman. He also worked as a carpenter helping to build Pueblo Park homes and the older Bel Aire homes. Mr. Bentz is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Petersen and Cynthia Douglass, and one son, Ribhard Douglass, all of Napa; a brother Earl of Valley, Neb.; a sister Lila Bogart of Moses Lake, Wash.; five grandchildren; and numberous nieces and nephews. He wa predeceased by a son, John Douglass, in 1976.
Military Information: PHM2, US NAVY
The Napa Valley Register
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Former Napa resident Melvin "Mel" Gay Bentz, 71, died here July 15 of cancer. Mr. Bentz was born on Feb. 5, 1922, in Fremont, Neb. He came to Napa in 1945 after serving on a destroyer during World War II. He married the former Patricia Casey in June of 1945, and they later divorced. He married Laura Wickland in January of 1959. Patricia passed away in 1987 and Laura passed away in 1985. Mr. Bentz operated the Knotty Pine Restaurant, which was once located across from Napa High School. He also built and operated the original Napa Furniture with Mike Corey in the 1940s. After selling the furniture store, Mr. Bentz worked for Al Kastner for many years as a car salesman. He also worked as a carpenter helping to build Pueblo Park homes and the older Bel Aire homes. Mr. Bentz is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Petersen and Cynthia Douglass, and one son, Ribhard Douglass, all of Napa; a brother Earl of Valley, Neb.; a sister Lila Bogart of Moses Lake, Wash.; five grandchildren; and numberous nieces and nephews. He wa predeceased by a son, John Douglass, in 1976.
Military Information: PHM2, US NAVY
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Former Napa resident Melvin "Mel" Gay Bentz, 71, died here July 15 of cancer. Mr. Bentz was born on Feb. 5, 1922, in Fremont, Neb. He came to Napa in 1945 after serving on a destroyer during World War II. He married the former Patricia Casey in June of 1945, and they later divorced. He married Laura Wickland in January of 1959. Patricia passed away in 1987 and Laura passed away in 1985. Mr. Bentz operated the Knotty Pine Restaurant, which was once located across from Napa High School. He also built and operated the original Napa Furniture with Mike Corey in the 1940s. After selling the furniture store, Mr. Bentz worked for Al Kastner for many years as a car salesman. He also worked as a carpenter helping to build Pueblo Park homes and the older Bel Aire homes. Mr. Bentz is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Petersen and Cynthia Douglass, and one son, Ribhard Douglass, all of Napa; a brother Earl of Valley, Neb.; a sister Lila Bogart of Moses Lake, Wash.; five grandchildren; and numberous nieces and nephews. He wa predeceased by a son, John Douglass, in 1976.
Military Information: PHM2, US NAVY
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PHM2, U.S. Navy, World War II
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