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In loving memory of
Homer Fritz
February 7, 2006
Homer Douglas Fritz, one of four children of Pearl Elizabeth (Haines) and Bert Fritz, was born in Hartville, Missouri on March 9, 1913. Homer's parents farmed and lived in several southwest Iowa communities before settling in the Haines family home in Silver City. Homer worked with his family and for other area farmers in the community until he moved to Chicago, IL where he attended school for radio repair. His time in Chicago was very important to him and he often reminisced about his experiences there. Following school, Homer returned to Silver City and began work at Gambles in Glenwood, IA. Homer soon caught the eye of Virginia Louise May, who worked at the Ben Franklin Store. On September 8, 1940, Homer and Virginia were married at the First Congregational Church in Glenwood. They made their first home in Cedar Rapids, IA where Homer worked for Collins Radio. In November of 1941, they were blessed with the birth of their first daughter Judith. The family returned to settle in Glenwood in 1942. Soon there after, Homer began work at the Martin Bomber Plant in Bellevue, Nebraska. In September of 1944, their marriage was blessed once more with the birth of their second daughter, Pamela. Homer was very proud of his work at the bomber plant where he served as an electrical inspector on the B-26 and B-29 Bomber. He performed the final inspection on the Enola Gay before it was put into service. In September of 2005, Homer was featured in the British magazine Aeroplane, where he discussed among other things, the final inspections during test flights, meeting President Roosevelt on the assembly line, and being sent to Kelly Field in Texas for training on autopilot and flux gate compass assemblies. At the conclusion of WWII, Homer went into business for himself repairing radios and televisions. He also worked for General Electric in Omaha, in addition to staying busy with his business at home.
Homer enjoyed his family and the outdoors, especially boating. Homer remodeled their Glenwood home, would fix anything for anybody, and always kept busy enjoying time with his family.
Homer and Virginia had been married 61 years at the time of Virginia's passing on January 29, 2001. Homer continued to live at their Glenwood home, and remained active in his family's lives. He was involved in his church, and enjoyed his daily outing to Hardees for coffee and conversation with his good friends.
Homer died at his home on February 7, 2006 at the age of 92 years, 10 months, and 28 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Pearl and Bert Fritz; wife Virginia Fritz; sister Leona June; and sons-in-law Larry Hostetter and George Oldaker. Homer is survived by his daughters Judy Smith-Cowan and her husband Jerry of Laurie, MO and Pam Hostetter-Oldaker of Glenwood; sister Letty Jones and her husband John of Bartlesville, OK; brother Wayne Fritz and his wife Vernelle of Bellevue, NE; grandchildren Robert Smith, his wife Susan, and their children Tessa Jean and Sam of Kansas City, MO, Suzanne McGarry, her husband Jack, and their son Mitchell of Morrison, CO, Cody Smith, his wife Amy, and their son Jude of Des Moines, IA, Scott Hostetter, his wife Angela, Scott's son Jordan of Omaha, NE and Scott's stepson Milan Cannamela of Iowa City, IA, Kelly Hostetter of Glenwood and her fiancé Hugh Thomas of London, England, Sean Hostetter, his wife Sara, and their children Sophia and Sayla of Des Moines, IA and Niki Hostetter of New York, NY; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.