Arnold Dwight Frye

HICKORY -- Arnold Dwight Frye, died June 5, 2002 at Frye Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, at Bethel United Methodist Church, Rev. Roger Sailors and Rev. Charles Stephens, officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites by the Hickory Masonic Lodge 343 will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bass-Smith Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be members of Hickory Masonic Lodge 343.
Mr. Frye was born March 6, 1922 in Catawba County, son of the late Guy Henderson and Martha Caroline Abee Frye. He was a veteran of WWII Army 739th Engineers, having served in North Africa, Europe and The Philippines. He served on the Town Council of Longview from 1956 until 1962; served as Mayor of Longview from 1962 until 1972; was a member of Masonic Order since May 26, 1958; Master of the Lodge in 1966; Member Yorkrite Bodies, September 9, 1958; Life Member Knights Templar Eye Foundation, September 9, 1958; Member Oasis Shrine Created New Member, October 18, 1958; Member Hickory Elks Lodge for 42 years where he served as Exalted Ruler for 3 years; and Member Longview Lions Club since 1956.
Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Opal Gentry Frye of the home; daughter, Sherry Frye Willis of Hickory, NC; son and fiancee, A. Dwight Frye Jr. and Sharon Matheson of Hickory; son and daughter-in-law, Douglas H. and Barbara Frye of Charlotte, NC; sisters, Mildred Dietz and Martha Eggers, both of Hickory, NC and Marie Bailey of Ocala, FL; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Lou Frye, Raleigh and Margaret Frye and Ned Frye, all of Hickory, and Essie Frye of Charlotte, NY; grandson, Ian Douglas Frye of Charlotte; step-granddaughter and husband, Lauren and Steven McCoy of Charlotte, NC; step-grandson and fiancee, Clive Willis IV and Kristin Walls of York PA; and step-great-grandson, Jackson Cole McCoy of Charlotte. Mr. Frye was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Clive Willis III and three brothers, Hershel, Harold and Howard Frye.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital or Oxford Home for Children, c/o Hickory Masonic Lodge 343, P.O. Box 451, Hickory, NC 28603, or Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658, or Bethel United Methodist Church, 80 28th Street NW, Hickory, NC 28601.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home is serving the Frye family.