Clarence Q. "Sam" Fritsche

Clarence Q. “Sam” Fritsche, born February 25, 1926, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Sam was the third son of Robert W. Fritsche and the former Johnnie Kloss and was born in Lee County, Texas. After his family moved to Austin, Texas, Sam enlisted in the United States Army and served honorably with the 42nd Rainbow Division in Germany and Austria in World War II. After returning from the war as an Honor Guard for General Mark Clark, Sam married Naomi Ruth Schiller in Rosebud, Texas, on March 20, 1948. Sam was a devoted son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. His nine years of dedication to his wife, Ruth, after her stroke was exemplary. Sam dedicated twenty-two years to Henna Chevrolet retiring in April of 1988. In his retirement Sam always looked forward to the gracious, annual, invitations to assist with inventory at Henna. He was a committed parishioner of Memorial United Methodist Church of Austin. Sam has been preceded in death by his loving wife Ruth, his parents and brothers Robert, Frank, Norris, Leroy and Gilbert Fritsche and sister Mary Ann. He is survived by brothers Marvin “Mickey” Fritsche and Gerald Fritsche, sister Faye Baum, son and daughter in law David Fritsche and Rachelle Landry, grandchildren Alaynah and Nathaniel and Godson Dennis Waley and family, and his friends at Memorial United Methodist Church and Henna Chevrolet. Friends and family are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on Tuesday, the 5th of April from three o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin. Following a private burial service, a memorial service will be held Wednesday the 6th of April at half past ten o’clock in the morning at Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin Texas, with the Rev. Leo Carrasco, Associate Pastor, officiating; a reception will immediately follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Memorial United Methodist Church. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the Reverend Bill Harris and Memorial United Methodist Church, the staff at Retirement Nursing Center (particularly for allowing Sam to play in their weekly bingo games the last five years), The Haven at Stone Oak, the professionals of Seton Medical Center and the physicians and staff of Austin Heart, P.A. We take great comfort in the fact that Sam has joyfully reunited with his dear Ruth. Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com