Walter Frederic Hetzler Sr.

He was born March 8, 1919, in Menlo, GA, to the late Walter Clifford and Annie Hutchison Hetzler. When he was two years old, the family including his six older siblings -- Gladys, Morris, Ralph, Neal, Robert, and Elizabeth who are now deceased -- moved to Chattanooga.

After Fred graduated from Central High School in 1937, he attended and graduated from the University of Chattanooga in 1941.

Upon graduation, Fred volunteered for the Navy and went to Officers Training School in Chicago. He served on the mine sweeper USS Scurry AM304 in the Pacific, where he saw action, notably at Iwo Jima and Okinawa during World War II. He was discharged from active duty in 1945 and continued in the Naval Reserve until 1961.

During college he met and courted Mary Margaret Delaney. Following her graduation in 1942, they were married in New York City on January 7, 1943, during Fred’s assignment to the New York City area.

After the war, Fred began working for his father-in-law W.P. Delaney at Eureka Foundry Company. He became its owner and president in the 1960’s until he retired in 1999. Three of his sons run the Foundry today.

He served as the first mayor of Walden, TN. In addition, he was a member of the Board and a fundraiser for Allied Arts and a board member of the Chattanooga Symphony Association. His professional associations include chairman of both the Chattanooga Manufacturing Association and American Foundry Society and board member of the Ductile Iron Society. He was a long time member of the Chattanooga Downtown Rotary. He was also a long time member of St. Augustine Catholic Church on Signal Mountain.

He and his wife Mary Margaret lived on Signal Mountain for more than 50 years. Over the 66 years of their marriage, Fred and Mary Margaret created a loving family of six children, twenty grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Margaret in 2009.

He is survived by his daughters Ann Jelen of Maryland, and Mary Hetzler and his four sons Fred Hetzler and his wife Lynnette, Peter Hetzler and his wife Clare, David Hetzler and his wife Kerwin, Chris Hetzler and his wife Jenny. His grandchildren include: Cathy Boney, Chrisy Jelen, Bill Jelen, Tom Jelen, Joe Jelen, Jessica Hetzler, Morgan Daneker, Heather Hetzler, Brian Boyd, Adam Boyd, Laurie Palmer, John Hetzler, Zachery Hetzler, Sherman Johnson, Richard Johnson, Matthew Johnson (deceased) Catherine Bentley, Andrew Hetzler, MeganVeal, and Adam Hetzler. He is also survived by twenty three great-grandchildren, by his sister-in-law Ann Mahoney and brother-in-law Joe Delaney and his wife Ginnie of Utah and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, 5401 Hwy 153, Hixson, TN 37343.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Signal Mountain on October 20, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service in the parish hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4413 Oakwood Drive, TN 37416.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.