Clifford Wesley Fritts

Clifford Wesley Fritts, 93, Ottawa, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Village Manor Nursing Home, Ottawa. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. He was born Monday, Aug. 16, 1915, at home two miles north of Richter to John Wesley and Nellie Frances (Brown) Fritts. He was a lifelong resident of the Franklin County area, except for a short time he worked in oil fields. He attended Oakland and Fairview rural schools. He was a member of the AFL-CIO, Ottawa Men's Bowling Association and a charter member of Aerie Lodge No. 2700, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ottawa. He was a farmer and machinist. He also worked in oil fields for Phillips Pipeline in 1939 and 1940; at Warner Manufacturing, Ottawa, for 25 years and at Skyhook, Ottawa, from 1965 to 1977. He retired at the age of 62. He married Naomi M. Funk Dec. 24, 1939, at Ottawa. She preceded him in death Jan. 31, 2004. Survivors include sons, Charles W. Fritts, and his wife, Shirley, L. Richard Fritts, and his wife, Judi, and Frank W. Fritts, and his companion, Vi Chapman, all of Ottawa, and Clifford L. Fritts, and his companion, Stephen Clemments, Wichita; brothers, Richard V. Fritts, and his wife, Marie, John Fritts Jr. and his wife, Opal, and Ewing Fritts, and his wife, Joanne, all of Ottawa; a sister-in-law, Kathleen Fritts, Ottawa; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He also was preceded in death by sisters, Gladys McIntire, Anita Bell Chambers, Alma Fritts and Ruby Rice; and brothers, Stanley Fritts and Edsel L. Fritts. Burial will be at Evergreen Mound Cemetery, Franklin County. Friends may pay their respects after 2 p.m. Sunday at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Memorial contributions may be sent to Midland Care Hospice in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, KS 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.