Frederick Johnson Lister

1929 - 2021

Harlingen - Frederick Johnson Lister, 92, died peacefully after a short illness on May 16, 2021. He was a resident of Harlingen for 69 years. He was born to Howard and Harriet Johnson Lister on March 5, 1929 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Upon graduating from Greensburg High School in 1946, he attended the Pittsburg Institute of Aeronautics to become a licensed aircraft and engine mechanic. He went to work for Bell Aircraft in Buffalo, New York. Fred then joined the Air Force in 1950 and was stationed in Sacramento, California. He was transferred to Harlingen Air Force base as a crew chief, where he was one of the first few to come to the Harlingen Air Force base in 1952 when it first opened due to the Korean War. It was there at the base that he met the love of his life Doris Jean Potts and they were married on April 2, 1954.

Fred served 4 years in the Air Force and then went to work for Metropolitan Life Insurance and eventually buying his own insurance agency, Fred Lister Insurance Agency, in Brownsville, Texas. After many years, he sold his agency and went to work for Shepard Walton King Insurance in Harlingen, Texas retiring at the age of 80 yrs. old.

He enjoyed fishing with his son, and was a talented woodworker. He was also a Master Gardener, long time member of the Rotary Club in Brownsville where he received the Paul Harris Fellow award and served many years as their greeter. Fred was the scoutmaster of Boy Scout troop 32 at First United Methodist Church in Harlingen and was a long time member of First United Methodist Church serving as budget and finance chairman and a member of the administrative board. Upon his retirement, he was a volunteer at Valley Baptist Hospital for 10 years.

He is preceded in death by his only sibling, Jim Lister, his parents Harriet and Howard Lister, and his mother-in-law, Inez Martin.

Survivors include his wife, Doris of 67 years, his children Laura Chappell (John) of Houston and Fred H. Lister of Austin, two grandchildren, Colin and Clare Chappell and his sister-in-law Pat Mullen of Houston.

A graveside service will be held at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas on June 17, 2021 at 1:15 pm. Family and friends are invited.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 W. Business 77, San Benito, Texas 78586. www.sanbenitofuneralhome.com 956.361.9192