Emerson Eugene Fritch

Emerson Eugene Fritch

81, died Wednesday, March 9, 2016, in FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, NC. Emerson was a loving husband and father to two children. He served in the Navy as a flight engineer. He was a machine repairman for Allison Transmission and retired after over thirty years of service. He loved fishing and hunting and was a big racing fan. He raised sheep for his children to show in 4H.

He was saved at Faith Baptist Church in Avon, Indiana, where he served in the jail ministry. He did whatever needed to be done for the Lord and had a deep love for missionaries. That took him to India twice where he led the charge to the first graduating class of Tabernacle Bible College run by his dear friend, Joseph Athyalil.

He and his predeceased wife, Evelyn, purchased the Canary Motel in 1985 and ran it until 1998. He loved his family and was a faithful servant of the Lord, always witnessing to anyone he met.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Gladys Fritch; sisters: Rosemary Fields, Betty Michael, Juanita Reed, and Violet Fritch; and brothers: Ronald, George and Lester Fritch.

Surviving is his wife, Shirley A. Fritch; daughter, Meloney Fritch; son, Bret W. Fritch (Cheryl) and step-children, Jennifer Johnson and Joey Johnson. He is also survived by grandchildren: Sam (Courtney) Beason; Katelyn Beason; Jennifer (Cody) Miller; Joey Koehl; Ricky Fritch, Kim Cook; Kari Werth, Jennifer Casino; Kaitlyn Farmer; Trevor Johnson and Kendra (Kris) Kenney; and great-grandchildren. Ricky, Alex and Alyssa Fritch, Savannah Cook, Taylor King, Camden Cole, Emmalynn Kenney and Charlie, Chase and Ruby Miller.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at G. H. Herrmann Madison Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46227. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to Joseph Athyalil, c/o Tabernacle Baptist Church, 717 Whitehurst Landing Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23464-2301.