Richard Frederick

Richard Frederick (93) passed away on November 4, 2025 in Warrenton, Virginia. He was preceded in death by Eleanore, his wife of 47 years, his parents, Frank and Katherine, and his three siblings, Frances, Harold and Dorothy. Richard is survived by his five children, Jean (James) Donaldson, Lora (William) Klugh, Allison (Eirik) Frederick Harteis, John (Eileen) Frederick and Eldon (Krista) Frederick, plus thirteen grandchildren, two granddaughters-in-law, one soon to be great-granddaughter and many others whom he loved and who cared for him.

Richard was born in Portsmouth, Iowa, and was the youngest of four children. He attended the town’s small Catholic school, where he made life-long friends. After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves and served stateside during the Korean War. He then moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he used the GI Bill to go to tv repair school and then worked as a radio and television repairman. In 1956, he began his career with AT&T and worked with the federal government in defense communications. After a move to Kansas City, Missouri, he met and married Eleanore in 1963. Another job transfer moved them to Washington, D.C., and they settled in Northern Virginia and raised their family. Richard retired from AT&T in 1989. When asked “Do you look forward to anything once you are retired?” He answered “Being retired.”

Richard was a quiet and strongly independent man whose life purpose was living his Catholic faith and loving and caring for his family. There was nothing he would not do to help a family member or friend. If one of his children called with a problem, he would show up with his toolbox to fix it if he could or just an ear and open heart to listen or provide support.

He was a true handyman with the skill and knowledge to build or repair anything. Every house he lived in had a workroom filled with tools neatly hung on the wall and pieces of wood or metal he saved that he knew would come in handy at some point. He could often be found in his workroom building a bluebird house or other carpentry project or working on a household repair while watching sports or cartoons on his little television. He also took care of all of the many cars in the family and spent hours in the family garden. Everything he worked on was done with meticulous care and attention to detail.

He always maintained a sense of humor and rarely complained, even as life got hard in his last few years. He said, “I might be ready physically but not mentally. And you could flip that around and it would be true too. I try to keep a little humor in my brain.” Once asked “Do you have any regrets?” He answered, “Not anymore.”

Richard’s greatest legacy is his loving example of a husband and father, which taught his children so much about working together and supporting him and each other during the final years of his life. He will be truly missed by all who knew him and will be remembered as a true gentleman.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Precious Blood Catholic Church, 114 E. Edmondson Street, Culpeper, Virginia 22701 followed by burial at St. Peter’s Catholic Church cemetery, 12762 Lee Highway, Washington, Virginia 22747.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s memory to Trinity Hospice of Warrenton, VA at 5 Rock Pointe Lane, Suite 201, Warrenton, Virginia 20186.