The Rev. Robert Joseph Fry, 80, of Springfield, died Friday May 23, 2008, at Ozarks Community Hospital in Springfield. He was born Dec. 2, 1927, in Shelby County, a son of Wiley and Jessie Doan Fry. On Jan. 8, 1947, in Olathe, Kan., he was married to Georgia Hazel Clem Howard, of Clarence. He graduated from Clarence High School in May 1945, and enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 7, 1945. He completed boot camp in San Diego, Calif. After attending yeoman prep school, he was ordered to the Naval Air Test Center in Patuxent River, Md. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 21, 1947. He was a past member and chaplain of American Legion Post 520 in La Monte. He served 46 years in the Christian ministry, serving Milan Christian Church, in Milan; Crossroads Christian Church, in Macon;La Monte Christian Church, in La Monte; and Houstonia Community Church in Houstonia. He also served the Show Me Christian Youth Home as public relations director. He was a gospel singer and songwriter. He farmed and worked at the locker plant in Clarence after his discharge. He began working in construction eventually formed his own general contracting company. He built custom homes in Clarence, Milan, Macon and LaMonte. Surviving are his children, Michael Howard, and his wife, Kathy, of Springfield, Nancy Pummill, and her husband, David, and Sharon Murphy, all of Yuba City, Calif., and Julie Wilhite, of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Ethel Graves, of Macon; seven grandchildren, Kimberly Murphy, Alicia Kempton, Aimee Anderson and Abbie Malone, all of Yuba, Calif.; Carrie Jo Fox, of Oil City, Penn., Michelle English, of New Jersey, and Adam Szabo, of Florida; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years; three brothers: Charles Fry, Frank Fry and Raymond Fry; an infant sister; a granddaughter; and a great-grandson. Services were Tuesday at Crossroads Christian Church in Macon, with the Rev. David Pummill officiating. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Clarence. Pallbearers were Melvin Scott, Ron Camp, Larry Butner, Ron Higgins, Dean Kuhns and Gale Culler. Arrangements were under the direction of Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Show Me Christian Youth Home, P.O. Box 6, La Monte, MO 65337.
The Rev. Robert Joseph Fry, 80, of Springfield, died Friday May 23, 2008, at Ozarks Community Hospital in Springfield. He was born Dec. 2, 1927, in Shelby County, a son of Wiley and Jessie Doan Fry. On Jan. 8, 1947, in Olathe, Kan., he was married to Georgia Hazel Clem Howard, of Clarence. He graduated from Clarence High School in May 1945, and enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 7, 1945. He completed boot camp in San Diego, Calif. After attending yeoman prep school, he was ordered to the Naval Air Test Center in Patuxent River, Md. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 21, 1947. He was a past member and chaplain of American Legion Post 520 in La Monte. He served 46 years in the Christian ministry, serving Milan Christian Church, in Milan; Crossroads Christian Church, in Macon;La Monte Christian Church, in La Monte; and Houstonia Community Church in Houstonia. He also served the Show Me Christian Youth Home as public relations director. He was a gospel singer and songwriter. He farmed and worked at the locker plant in Clarence after his discharge. He began working in construction eventually formed his own general contracting company. He built custom homes in Clarence, Milan, Macon and LaMonte. Surviving are his children, Michael Howard, and his wife, Kathy, of Springfield, Nancy Pummill, and her husband, David, and Sharon Murphy, all of Yuba City, Calif., and Julie Wilhite, of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Ethel Graves, of Macon; seven grandchildren, Kimberly Murphy, Alicia Kempton, Aimee Anderson and Abbie Malone, all of Yuba, Calif.; Carrie Jo Fox, of Oil City, Penn., Michelle English, of New Jersey, and Adam Szabo, of Florida; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years; three brothers: Charles Fry, Frank Fry and Raymond Fry; an infant sister; a granddaughter; and a great-grandson. Services were Tuesday at Crossroads Christian Church in Macon, with the Rev. David Pummill officiating. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Clarence. Pallbearers were Melvin Scott, Ron Camp, Larry Butner, Ron Higgins, Dean Kuhns and Gale Culler. Arrangements were under the direction of Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Show Me Christian Youth Home, P.O. Box 6, La Monte, MO 65337.
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