Mr. Fredric M. Willits

Fred was born in Long Beach California, on October 1, 1933, the youngest child of Raymond and Maude Willits. He graduated from Jordan High School, Long Beach City College, and Long Beach State. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-1954, as a Flight Engineer and Boom Operator for the KC-97, during the Korean War.

Fred married the love of his life, Sylvia Zanelli, in August 1955. They would have celebrated 56 years of marriage on August 27, 2011. After spending the first years of their marriage in Southern California, they moved to Fresno, with their two young daughters, Julie and Jeanne. Fred was Western Regional Sales manager for Keyes Fiber Company, Tri-Wall Containers later Weyerhauser, and Georgia Pacific.

Fred was very patriotic. He loved his country, and never missed a moment to chat "conservative" politics. He had a passion for sports, and was an avid Fresno State Bulldog fan. He rarely missed a home game, and often traveled around the country to cheer them on. Fred was a charter member of the Do-Little Club, a group of friends who went to lunch every month to catch up and solve the problems of the world.

Fred loved his family more than anything, and his pride and joy were his six grandchildren, Lauren, Ryan, Zach, Madeline, Reid, and Andrea.

The family wants to give special thanks to the wonderful caregivers that were with him in the last weeks of his life, Layne, Mary, Diane, and Linda. We also want to thank Dr. Douglas Stanley, for his care and support.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Maude Willits; his siblings, Virginia Wuchner, Raymond Jr., and Olivia Jean Willits.

Fred will truly be missed by all who have had the opportunity to know him. We know he is watching over us now, but most of all that his suffering has ceased and he is walking with our Lord.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Sylvia; his daughters and their husbands, Julie and Wayne Scholes, Jeanne and Marshall Whitney; and his grandchildren, Lauren and Ryan Scholes, Zachary Smith, Madeline, Reid, and Andrea Whitney. Missing him will be his brother-in-law Felix Wuchner, great nieces Evie Kay and Julie Zoolakis, as well as many other nieces and nephews.

A private family service was held on June 30, 2011. There will be a celebration of life service at Northwest Church at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2011.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or the Valley Animal Center.