Frederick Wharton BAUDER

BAUDER, Frederick Wharton, of Richmond, Va. and Miami, Fla., died peacefully on October 27, 2009. He was born in Miami, Fla. on March 27, 1926, the only child of the late John F. Bauder and Mildred Wharton Bauder of Ohio. He is survived by his only child, Page Wharton Bauder of Richmond, Va. He spoke glowingly of growing up in Miami and of life-long friends from Miami High School, where he was a student leader, graduating in three years. He joined the Navy V-12 program at UNC at Chapel Hill, and enjoyed life as President of SAE Fraternity, yearbook editor and member of the Order of the Grail, graduating in 1946. He was a graduate of Harvard Business School, Class of 1949. He moved to Richmond, Virginia to work for Thalhimers Department Stores where he met his former wife, Betty Bunnell Bauder of Richmond. His business career continued at Miller Manufacturing, then as Director of Purchasing for A.H Robins Pharmaceuticals for 15 years, and finally reaching his goal of retiring at age 55 from Virginia Power. Mr. Bauder was an original founder of the Fan District Association in 1961 and served as President, living in the Fan for over 50 years. A life-long sailor, he was a former member of the Potomac River Sailing Association and Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami. He was a loyal member of First Unitarian Church, having served as Treasurer and on the Finance Committee. Throughout his life, his passions ranged from designing and building contemporary wood furniture, listening to classical and folk music, studying U.S. history, pursuing educational travel and genealogy research. His ongoing love of nature and gardening was fully expressed in his retirement years, dividing each year between Richmond and Miami. He joined the Virginia Grape Grower's Assoc., starting a vineyard in Louisa County, and in the winter, returned to his family home in Coconut Grove, Miami pursuing a dream of planting experimental walnut and mahogany groves. He enjoyed a varied group of friends including spending over twenty years of Thursday evenings at the Robin Inn. In the final months of his life, he prayed to accept the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 3 p.m. at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 5200 Grove Avenue. Interment will be in Miami, Fla.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.