Helmut Fritz Robert Petrich

PETRICH, Helmut Robert “Fritz”, of Flint, age 70, died Friday, March 5, 2010 at Avalon Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 5:30 pm, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Bristol Road Church of Christ, 1315 W. Bristol Road, Flint, Mr. Gary Turner, Mr. Dion Frasier, and Mr. Garth Pleasant will officiate. Mr. Petrich will lie in state at the church Tuesday from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. The family will also receive friends Monday from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Brown Funeral Home, 1480 E. Hill Road, Grand Blanc. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kathy Petrich Music Scholarship Fund in care of Battle Creek Community Foundation, One Riverwalk Center 34 W. Jackson St. Battle Creek, MI 49017-3505 or H.I.S. Ministry in care of Bristol Road Church of Christ. Fritz was born on January 18, 1940 in New York, New York, son of the late Alfred and Bertha (Schreck) Petrich. He was a graduate of the High School of Music & Art in New York, N.Y., earned a Bachelor’s degree from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas and earned a Master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Idaho. Fritz had also attended Mary Grove College. Fritz taught at Ohio Valley Christian College, Parkersburg, WV. , Northern High School, Michigan Christian College, Rochester, MI, and Flint Central High School. In 2002 he retired from Flint Central High School following a long career as a music teacher. He was the past president of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association, served as a local delegate for Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association, and was the Director of the All State Honors Choir. Fritz was currently a member of the Bristol Road Church of Christ and had previously been a member of the West Carpenter Road Church of Christ where he served as an Elder for many years, and was also a founding member of the Chansonaires Gospel Quartet. Among his many achievements, the Vocal Music Association named him Music Teacher of the Year and he also was named Saginaw Valley Teacher of the Year. Fritz is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Johnnie Sue (DeHoff) Petrich whom he married on August 29, 1964 in Memphis, Tennessee. He is also survived by four children, Karl (Valerie) Petrich of Flint, Karen (David) Christian of Flint, Kristy (Dion) Frasier of Reynoldsburg, OH, and Joshua Petrich of Flint, grandchildren Nikki, Mani and Raurie Petrich, Ashley, Kayley, and David Jr. Christian, and Kaitlynd and Kyra Frasier, and sister Waltraut (Enrique) Enguinos of California. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter Kathy Petrich and a brother, Horst Petrich. Memories may be shared online at www.mem.com.