|
Velten Frank Fritz, age 96, of Albuquerque, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Velten was born on July 1, 1914, in Albuquerque to Frank and Hilda Fritz. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marian (Hollerich) Fritz; three sons, Stephen (Marie) of Albuquerque, Philip (Judy) of Portland, OR, and David (Stefa) of Brooklyn, NY; three daughters, Jean Latham (David) of Rio Rancho, Mary Ellen Farrelly (David) of Albuquerque, and Teri McMillan (Michael) of Rio Rancho; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1932 and attended the University of NM. He rode horses for three years while serving in the US Army, 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, TX from September 1935 to September 1938. He graduated from the California College of Mortuary Science in 1941, and subsequently worked at Memorial Chapel in Santa Fe, where he met his wife, who was living there at the time. At the beginning of World War II, he enlisted in the US Navy and served as a Naval Armed Guard Radioman aboard US merchant vessels until his discharge in December 1945. Upon his return to Albuquerque, he worked for Strong-Thorne Mortuary as an embalmer and funeral director until he fully retired in 1987. He was a life member of the Heights Lions Club and the BPOE Lodge No. 461. Velten never knew a stranger and he would engage everyone in a conversation. He read extensively and could recall a lot of historical facts. He loved trains and planes and he was forever taking his children down to the Albuquerque Train Station to watch the AT&SF El Capitan and Super Chief trains arrive and also out to Albuquerque Airport to watch the planes land and takeoff. Velten will be interred at Santa Fe National Cemetery and a Memorial Mass is scheduled for Thursday, March 17, 2011, 9:00 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church, 619 Cooper NW. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Barrett Foundation (non-profit for homeless women and children), 10300 Constitution Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87112 or Hospice of New Mexico, 4015 Carlisle NE, Suite E, Albuquerque, NM, 87107. Please visit our online guestbook for Velten at www.RememberTheirStory.com. FRENCH 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333
|
