Frederic Walter Greene

Fred was born on August 4, 1953, to Paul James Greene and Betty Virginia McKinney Greene, of Washington, Pennsylvania. With brother, Rick, who was seven years older, Fred was a happy, adventuresome boy in an extended German, Scottish, Irish, English family that often gathered at the farm in Ridgeway or one of the many relatives’ houses in town. He was immensely proud of his heritage and being a descendent of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene.

From his family he gained a great respect for nature and animals, which he, in turn, earnestly taught his children. Growing up, he hunted every Saturday in the hills and mountains with his Grandpa Greene in the mornings and his Dad in the afternoons. His passion for fishing and boating stemmed from annual family fishing trips to northeastern Pennsylvania. He loved taking his children fishing and hunting, and showing off to his wife that he could shoot through the center of a dime from 50 yards.

Fred attended school in the Sixth Ward and graduated from “Wash High” in 1972. About three years later, he pursued a college education, majoring in clinical psychology, at Ohio University and the University of Northern Colorado.

Growing up, Fred listened to the conversations of his family and local Pittsburgh Steelers players who stopped by the house after their day’s work in the off-season. As a young man, he enjoyed the music of Joplin, Hendrix, Dylan, Neil Young, the Grateful Dead and Bob Marley, and was averse to the Vietnam War. He led protests and sit-ins, and with friends, he greeted soldiers with cases of beer at the airport as they returned home from their Vietnam tours. He spent time reading a range of authors and subjects, such as Carlos Castanada, Foxfire books, the Tolkien trilogy, and history.

Fred was a hard worker from a young age. As a boy he got up early to deliver 120 newspapers on his bike, often returning home with his tennis shoes soaked from spring rains or winter slush. At age 12, he worked in a greenhouse until allergies made him stop, and later found that working in the coal mine two miles down the road was not for him.

Fred achieved a great sense of satisfaction with several life-long occupations. From high school through college, he was a proud card-carrying union bricklayer and stone mason. A talented craftsman, Fred took pleasure in working with wood and could build anything, from intricate inlaid furniture to houses, and owned several construction companies. He was successful at renovating old homes, and as co-owner of an antique business with his wife, Fred beautifully refinished and restored aged pieces of history.

Anyone who met Fred soon realized he was charismatic, self-assured, independent-minded, and creative. He possessed a special ability to make people feel comfortable in any setting and with any topic, which translated well with his work. His first major sales position was with Hughes Tool Co., in its oilfield division in Ohio. He did so well that the company trained him as a hydraulics engineer for rigs offshore in Louisiana. Then, global industrial tool manufacturer Guhring, Inc., hired Fred as sales manager for Michigan and surrounding states. Because he drummed up so much business, the company opened a new plant in his region and employed more salespeople. He became their carbide technical advisor for customers across the country and was often asked to be a plant manager. Afterward, he increased sales 40 percent for another tool supply business. Fred patented several inventions and was awarded multiple times Salesman of the Year, Best Territory Growth, and Best Product Growth, among other national recognitions.

Fred retired in 2008, but continued as an entrepreneur, teaching his children about raising chickens and selling eggs, making and distributing maple syrup, and inventing an easy method to drain household pipes. One of his companies, Freeze Flow Products, was featured on television. He became a fan of crossword puzzles and beat us in Scrabble with his knowledge of archaic hunting, fishing, and woodworking terms, which he used to his advantage; it was no use challenging him.

Coming home to Fred was always a joy as he became a gourmet cook and filled our house with music, especially from the Woodstock genre, a music festival he attended. He was constantly thinking and planning one thing after another, and forever bringing home puppies, chicks, birdfeeders, and materials for a new project. He enjoyed attending concerts and plays, traveling to Europe, and vacationing in the Caribbean, especially Jamaica, for the sun, sea, and music. Being with Fred was special, as he put everyone at ease with his stories, had a great sense of style, and was the handsomest man in the room.

He loved his family and gave us a treasure chest of adventures, stories, and memories. He was immensely proud of his children. Left to carry on his legacy are his loving wife of 31 years, Lucinda Davenport; children, Rachael Davenport Greene, Jason Davenport Greene (Maddie), Daniel Greene (Janette), and Shaun Greene (Caitlin); granddaughter, Serena Greene; and other relatives and life-long friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Betty Greene, and brother, Richard James Greene.

Fred was Episcopalian and attended Mason First Presbyterian Church. Our family is grateful to Rev. Bill Pinches and our extended family and friends for their love, prayers, and support. Fred asked for no service, but a final family trip with him to the “beautiful blue and turquoise waters” of Florida. Memorials may be donated for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation: The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida, 33050 (phone: 305-743-2552).