Faye Emily Fletcher

Faye E. Fletcher, a resident of Germantown, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2023, at the age of 98 years and one month. Faye was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1925. Following the premature deaths of her parents, Emil and Olive Frickenstein in 1937 and 1928, respectively, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, Rudolph and Ida Frickenstein. Faye’s life was as purposeful and eventful as it was long. As a child, Faye enjoyed spending summer months on her aunt’s farm in Alhambra, Illinois, learning to can fruit and vegetables and tend to cattle, hogs and chickens. A neighbor taught Faye to play the piano as a young girl (at $2 a lesson) and, in 1933, her father drove her to the Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago, an experience which instilled in her a life-long love of travel (and also exposed her to her first motel room and a bathroom shower, then a novelty.) Faye was an excellent student and avid reader; she aspired to attend college, but the outbreak of World War II and her limited financial means frustrated her plans. She graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1943 – she was chosen Homecoming Queen that year - and immediately took a job as a bank teller. She supported the war effort as a civilian volunteer by writing letters and sending packages of cookies to soldiers and sailors serving overseas. In early 1945, she met LTJG. Willard M. Fletcher, a naval aviator who had returned home to Edwardsville from the Pacific Theater a highly-decorated war hero. Faye was oblivious to Fletch’s fame initially, but she was smitten, as was he, and they were married in April 1946. A son was born 18 months later, and Faye embarked on a career as mother, homemaker and navy wife. The family moved every two years as Fletch was transferred from one naval air station to another. This was an era in military society where etiquette required calling cards, white gloves, and elaborate in-home dinners and cocktail parties for fellow officers and their wives. Faye excelled as a hostess; she made friends easily and stayed in touch with them throughout the years. She stretched her husband’s modest salary by sewing clothes for herself and her children - she bore a second son in 1952 and a daughter in 1960 - and by saving up for luxuries before purchasing them. In 1957, the navy transferred Fletch to the Naval Air Station Naha, Okinawa, and Faye and the family accompanied him. This was the fulfillment of Faye’s travel dreams; she and Fletch eagerly explored the island and made side visits to exotic Hong Kong and Tokyo. Faye immersed herself in Okinawan culture, taught English pronunciation to Okinawan school children, and helped organize relief missions to impoverished areas of the Ryukyuan Islands. In 1958, her travel dreams nearly turned into a nightmare when Chinese Communists bombarded islands held by Chinese Nationalists on Formosa and U.S. forces on Okinawa were placed on war alert. Fletch was away from home for weeks, leaving Faye to manage the family through the crises. Fletch finished his naval career with assignments in California, Illinois and Tennessee. Faye superintended each of the family’s moves and resettlements with practiced care. She was pleased when Fletch retired from the navy and became Deputy Director of Memphis International Airport; there would be no more family moves. And she was very proud and pleased when Fletch was appointed President of the Memphis Airport Authority, a position which gave them the opportunity to travel together occasionally on airport business. Fletch attributed his success in military and civilian life to Faye’s warmth, beauty and grace. Faye never remarried after Fletch died in 1985 because, she said, he was the love of her life. Faye was devoted to her family and engaged in the community. She was a member of the Nineteenth Century Club; Navy Wives of Memphis; Navy League of Memphis; the Military Order of World Wars; Germantown Performing Arts Center Guild; and Second Presbyterian Church. She lived independently, managing her own affairs until only a few months before her death. She is survived by: her sons Gregory G. Fletcher of Memphis, and Mark W. Fletcher of Hiawassee, Georgia; her daughter Mary Beth Douglas of Germantown, Tennessee; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a brother, Dr. Ralph G. Frick of Largo, Florida. They will dearly miss her love and care. A memorial service will be held at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Road, Bartlett TN 38133, Monday, November 6 at 10:00 a.m. Faye requested that, in lieu of flowers, any memorials be in the form of a donation to a charity of the donor’s choice

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Fletcher family.