Frederick W. Thul

(Courier News)

FREDERICK W. THUL
AGE: 88
NORTH PLAINFIELD
Frederick W. Thul, 88, a lifelong resident of North Plainfield, died Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington. Fred was a graduate of North Plainfield High School, Class of 1940, where he excelled in academics and athletics. He was undefeated in the high jump for three years and set new records for North Plainfield High School and Somerset County. He was inducted into the North Plainfield High School Hall of Fame in 2004. Fred continued his studies at Newark College of Engineering where he lettered in track his first year. Fred was a veteran of World War II, having served as a Sgt. with the 298th Antiaircraft Artillery Ordinance Co. and 106th Infantry in Europe. After the War, he joined his father, Nick Thul, in the family business, Thul Auto Parts in Plainfield. Under Fred's reign, he expanded the business from a single location into three separate companies, Thul Auto Parts with seven locations; Thul Engine & Equipment, which was one of the top distributors of remanufactured engines in the country; and Thul Machine Works, which enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest contract manufacturers in the tri-state area. Fred retired in 1991 and turned the businesses over to his sons, who continue his legacy today. Fred was a founder of the NJ Automotive Wholesalers Association and longtime member and former President of the Mid-Jersey Automotive Wholesalers Association and a member of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Thul was also one of the founders of Regional Automotive Warehouse Corp in Newark, NJ which became one of the leading wholesale auto parts distribution companies in the northeast. He was a founder of the Plainfield Curling Club and served three years on the North Plainfield Board of Education. He was passionate about his family, family history and genealogy.
He is survived by his wife, Louise; four sons, Rick and his wife, Bonnie, Nick and his wife, Marjorie, Jim and his wife, Lorna, and Larry and his wife, Jennifer; nine grandchildren, Melissa, Eric, Dana, Karin, Nicholas, Lauren, Garrett, Larry and Alex; and one great grandson, Brayden.
The funeral will be from Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Ave., Fanwood, on Thursday at 9 A.M. followed by a funeral Mass at St. Luke's R.C. Church, North Plainfield, at 10 A.M. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Wyckoff House & Association, 5816 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn NY 11203 or Hunterdon Medical Center Capital Campaign, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington NJ 08822. For additional information or to express condolences, please visit www.fanwoodmemorial.com.