William "Bill" P. Fryrear

He was born on January 19, 1934, in Louisville. He was the son of the late William P. Fryrear and Zona (Webb) Fryrear. Also preceding him in death are his beloved wife, Norma Jean Fryrear; brother, Albert Fryrear; and sisters, Lucille Sechrist, Mabel Cash, and Sylvia Peters.

Through a blind date arranged by a mutual friend, Bill met Norma Jean Munier in the summer of 1956. It was almost love at first sight. Within six months of meeting, they lovingly vowed to spend the rest of their lives with one another. Bill and Jean celebrated 60 wonderful years of marriage before Jean passed away in 2017.

He will be lovingly remembered by son, Bill Fryrear III; daughter, Melissa Fryrear; granddaughters, Jaclyn Fryrear and Julia Fryrear; great-granddaughter, Sedona Fryrear; nieces and a nephew, and extended family and friends.

A proud Louisvillian all of his life, he graduated from Cedar Street Elementary School, Western Junior High School, and Louisville Male High School. He was a member of the Male High football team that won the 1951 state championship. He was also selected to referee the last Male versus Manual game played on Thanksgiving day in 1980. He was a US Navy veteran of the Korean conflict aboard the USS Eldorado. After the Navy, he graduated from the University of Louisville with honors. His career was spent with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, Detrex Corporation, and within the engineering department at General Electric.

As a Male High School graduate, he was an active volunteer with the LMHS Alumni Board of Directors and was honored to be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He was an avid University of Louisville fan and on almost any week during the seasons, you could find him cheering for the Cards at a football or basketball game. His love for British sports car began in his twenties and continued all of his life. He was especially fond of Austin-Healeys. For years he was an active member of both the Bluegrass Austin-Healey Club and the Louisville British Sports Car Club. He also served as president of both clubs. With his wife in the seat beside him, he enjoyed countless scenic drives through the beautiful backroads of Kentucky. Next to his cars, he was equally passionate about football. He officiated high school football for 28 years and college football for 22 years. He was once voted the Official of the Year in the Kentuckiana Football Officials Association (KFOA), won the Sam Gruneisen Award, as well as the Pack Durken Award in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). He also served as president of both the KFOA and the OVC. A resident of Douglass Hills since the 1960s, he gave back to the city by serving for many years on the city council. As a member of Southeast Christian Church, every week he looked forward to attending the Sunday morning worship service followed by a Bible study class. And for a Louisvillian, no life would be complete without celebrating the races at Churchill Downs. Finally, he was bestowed the highest title of honor by the Governor of Kentucky having been made a Kentucky Colonel.

He was a strong, wise, and peaceful man with a steadfast love for his family that was selfless and generous. While our hearts ache that we will be absent from him for the rest of this lifetime, we rejoice that we will one day be reunited for eternity in Heaven. Many years ago Bill, on the same day with his wife, accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with a short service at 2 p.m.) on Thursday, December 5th, at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Memorial, 4400 Bardstown Rd, Louisville KY 40218. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery.

Please do not send flowers. Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to Hopeful Hearts Foundation, PO Box 437015, Louisville, KY 40253.