FRIES-WILLIAM

William Fries Sr., age 93 of Tulsa, Oklahoma and formerly of Fremont passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at home in Tulsa. Bill was born on August 4, 1929, in Joliet, Illinois to Stansfield and Sophia S. (Magnuson) Fries and married Audrey Virginia Mandel on September 6, 1952. Bill later married Janet Sandra Boggs on October 3, 2017, in Tulsa where they made their home.

LT Bill Fries started his career in the United States Navy in November of 1947. He served on the USS Midway CVA-41 and the USS Forrestal CVA-59, as well as serving at the NAS in Corpus Christi, TX, NAS in Miramar, San Diego, CA, and NAS in Jacksonville, FL. Bill was aboard the USS Forrestal from 1965 through June of 1968 and belonged to three divisions: OZ, OE of the Operation Department, and A Division of the AIMD Department. He retired in 1977 after proudly serving 21 years active duty and 10 years reserve duty in the United States Navy. He was also an active member of the USS Forrestal Association.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Bill returned to Gerber Products Company in Fremont and brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to his position there as a Data Processing Operations Manager. Bill became a Mason, an organization devoted to fellowship, moral discipline, and mutual assistance, in Tennessee, in October 1956 and transferred to the Hesperia Arcana Lodge #346 F&AM in July 2012. Bill was active in the leadership of the local Boy Scouts of America in the 1960s and 1970s and provided leadership on the district and council level.  This exemplary leadership was acknowledged with the presentation of the distinguished Silver Beaver Award by the Timber Trails Council.  He was a long time member of the Fremont Rotary Club where both he and Audrey were distinguished Paul Harris Fellows and had served as president. Bill loved History and cherished his extensive travels around the world with family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janet Fries; children, William (Bill) Fries & wife Linda Rosenthal of Fremont, Peter E. Fries & wife Leslye Fries of Howard City, and Elizabeth (Beth) A. Rogers & husband Michael (Mike) of Barnet, Vermont; daughter, Laura & husband Sean Boyles of Missouri City, Texas; many grandchildren & great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and special friend of the family Steve Macpherson.  Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey in 2009; son, John F. Fries in 2014; sister, Gladys McDaniel; and brother, Stansfield Fries Jr.