John Junior Fritts

John Junior Fritts, 90, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 5, 2016. Funeral services will be held from at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Family will meet with friends from 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M., Monday, September 12, 2016, at the mortuary. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Pomona, Kansas. John was born Wednesday, June 9, 1926, in Pomona, Kansas, the son of John Wesley and Nellie Frances (Brown) Fritts. John was united in marriage to Opal D. Shibe November 3, 1948, in Topeka, Kansas. She survives of the home. He was a lifelong Franklin County and Ottawa resident living on the farm 54 years. John and Opal spent winters in Port Aransas, Texas, from 1988 to 2014. Other survivors include his children, Jerry Fritts and wife Debbie of Ottawa, Shirley Rose and husband David of Baldwin City, and Joyce Smith and husband Randy of Ottawa; two brothers, Richard Fritts of Ottawa, and Ewing Fritts also of Ottawa; ten grandchildren, Julie Hendricks, Travis Fritts, Tracy Fritts, Chris Rose, Jason Rose, Heather Foster, Shandon Smith, Brandi Harnett, Jay Blitch, and Joel Blitch; twenty-three great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nellie Fritts; three brothers, Clifford Fritts, Edsel Fritts, and Stanley Fritts; and four sisters, Ruby Rice, Gladys McIntire, Anita Chambers and Alma Fritts. He was employed for the Franklin County Road and Bridge as a heavy equipment operator from 1947 to 1951; Sunflower Ordinance as a diesel mechanic from 1951 to 1958; American Hydrotherm Corporation at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base from 1958 to 1960 transferring to Sioux City, Iowa, from 1960 to 1962; Sheldon Equipment as a mechanic from 1962 to 1973; and the City of Ottawa as a heavy equipment operator from 1973 until retiring in 1988. He was a member of Power of the Past Antique Engine & Tractor Association and the Night Crawlers Camping Club. John collected pens, pencils and fishing poles. He enjoyed fishing, fish frys and restoring tractors. Above all, he loved his family and spending time with the grandchildren. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Power of the Past c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on John’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com