Hubert Harold Fry
Hubert Harold Fry, 90 of Richwood died Saturday, May 28, 2016 at Marion General Hospital.
He was born July 22, 1925 in Millcreek to James Harold and Nellie (Fairbanks) Fry. He attended Bellepoint school until third grade when his mother and father divorced, and then he went to live with his Aunt Hazel and Uncle Roy Fry, north of Richwood. While living with Hazel and Roy he attended school in Essex and helped on the farm. When his grandpa Fairbanks died he moved back to the New Dover area to work the Fairbanks farm until his grandma Fairbanks passed away. At that time he moved in with his oldest sister, Julia, and her husband, Keysie Yoder, helping with babysitting and working the Yoder farm as well as helping neighboring farmers whenever possible. He graduated from New Dover High School in 1943. He then enlisted in the U. S. Army and while enroute to Japan, World War II ended, so he served his tour of duty during the occupation of Japan. Upon returning from the service, he lived for a time with his sister, Ann and her husband, Frank Rausch, finding work doing construction and running heavy equipment for the L. C. Grindell Company in Richwood. Eventually this work led him to the Ohio State Highway Department (now ODOT) and the Union County Highway Department where he became supervisor of the bridge replacement crew. He worked there until he retired.
He was introduced to Maryalice Thompson and they were married in 1955 and settled down in Richwood in 1956. After a 9-month battle with cancer, Maryalice died in 1973. He understood the value of education and was proud that all of this children went on to attend or graduate from institutions of higher learning, Jonella and William from Ohio Northern University, Melinda and Russell from The Ohio State University, and Laura from Marion Technical College.
After retiring from the Union County Highway Department in 1986 he proudly served the veterans of the county as a member of the Union County Veterans Commission until 2007. While serving on the commission he was a member of the American Legion, the AmVets, and he was a founding life member of VFW Post 870 in Richwood.
Hubie liked to drink a few beers occasionally with friends. He loved a good joke and was very proud of his grandchildren, Beau, Timothy, Emma, Nicholas, and Charles, following and supporting them in whatever endeavors they might be participating in. He also enjoyed working with family friend, Lee Foos on his farm for several years after retiring from the county. He had a great admiration for Kaki and Tom Johnston and their children and considered them as part of the family. In his later years, he spent many of his mornings enjoying breakfast and talking with his friends in Marion. He especially enjoyed the care and attention he received from his friend, Marcella while at Bairre’s Restaurante. He had a knack for acquiring new friends. As many of his old friends passed on, this knack helped him to enjoy a zest for life, even as mobility issues slowed him in his later life. He grew up in a time when being propelled on farm equipment that was 2-horsepower meant it was pulled by 2 horses. He loved to work outdoors where he could get “plenty of fresh air and sunshine” and we are sure that’s where his spirit will continue to live on.
He is survived by daughters, Jonella (Spiro) Michaylov, Redmond, Washington; Laurie (Brian) Reeder, Richwood; sons, William (Kim) Fry, Allen Center; Russell Fry, Richwood; grandchildren, Beau Lusk, Timothy Fry, Emma Lusk, Nicholas Reeder, Charles “Chaz” Reeder; and a sister, Mary Jane Chapman, Marysville; sister-in-law, Wilma Ross, Richwood; brother-in-law, Mike (Karen) Thompson, Hocking Hills; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Maryalice, a daughter, Melinda Fry, sister, Julia Yoder, Ann Rausch and Jean Simpson, brothers-in-law, Clelia “Keysie” Yoder, John “Crawdad” Simpson, Richard “Monk” Ross, Jack Shank, Frank Rausch, and Edward Chapman, and sister-in-law, Shirley Shank.
Funeral services will Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Richwood with Pastor Joe Rhea officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Richwood Area Veterans. Burial will follow in Claibourne Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 3 to 7 PM at the funeral home in Richwood.
Memorial gifts may be made to Richwood VFW Post 870, P. O. Box 164, Richwood, OH 43344 and North Union Baseball for Boys, PO Box 13, Richwood, Ohio 43344.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home