Eldor Melvin Fritsche

Fritsche. He was baptized on October 17, 1937 at St. John Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Texas by

Rev. Reinhard Osthoff and renewed his baptismal vows in his confirmation on April 6, 1952 at St.

John Lutheran Church by Rev. H.A. Stroebel. Eldor's confirmation verse was "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" Romans 1:16.

Eldor was united in marriage to Helen Francis Schiwart on July 6, 1957 by Rev. Max Studtmann in

Lincoln, Texas and then moved to Houston where they became members of Trinity Lutheran

Church Downtown. In 1963 the family moved to the Spring Branch area and joined St. Mark

Lutheran Church in 1966, where he and Helen have been active members ever since. After

moving to Houston, Eldor worked for WKM Machine, the Spring Branch Independent School

District, Cookbook Bakery and JH Walker Trucking, and in 1986 became the Facilities Supervisor

at St. Mark where he faithfully served for 15 years before retiring in 2001. He also served

numerous terms on the Board of Trustees and Board of Elders over the course of his 54-year

membership at St. Mark.

Eldor was a loving husband and devoted father who was deeply committed to his family and

worked hard to support them. In his spare time he loved to fish, play dominoes, and was the

consummate do-it-yourselfer. There was nothing around the house or in the garage he could not

build or repair. But above all, Eldor was known by family and friends as a man of unwavering

Christian faith who lived his life with honesty, integrity, and an infectious smile that will not be

forgotten.

Eldor was called to be with his Savior on Wednesday morning, December 30, 2020 at the age of

83 years, 2 months and 22 days.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Mary; three sisters, Irene Koslan and husband

Gerhard, Ruth Marquardt and husband Oscar, and Edna Rabe and husband Willard; four

brothers, Bill Fritsche and wife Marie, Walter Fritsche and wife Maria, Gilbert Fritsche, and Erwin

Fritsche; daughter-in-law Sharon (Smith) Fritsche; and parents-in-law Ernest Schiwart, Jr. and

Gertrude (Rackel) Schiwart.

Eldor is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Fritsche; five sons, Steve, Alan and wife Christine,

Kevin and wife Sharon, Anthony and wife Julie, and Nathan and wife Annie; thirteen

grandchildren, Dustin Fritsche, Chris Fritsche, Sara Perez and husband Tommy, Stephanie Gibson

and husband Mike, Kyle Fritsche and wife Liz, Matthew Fritsche and wife Summer, Brett Fritsche,

Jake Fritsche, Hannah Fritsche, Emily Fritsche, Nicole Fritsche, Nate Fritsche, and Natalie Fritsche;

eight great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Faye Fritsche of Emma, Missouri and Doris Fritsche

of Northrup, Texas; brother-in-law Melvin Schiwart and wife Janette; and many other nieces,

nephews, relatives and friends.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the visitation with family and friends has been canceled. A celebration of life service for Eldor was held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5, in the sanctuary of St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1515 Hillendahl in Houston, with The Reverend Matt Popovits officiating. A family only interment followed at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, also in Houston.

For those desiring and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Eldors name would be greatly appreciated to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO, 63141, (800) 944-3450. You may also donate online at www.lhm.org or by clicking the link below.