Frederick Irving Breck Jr.

Born November 3rd, 1927, in Atlanta, Georgia, Fred was the only child of Frederick I. and Lesley (McDade) Breck, Sr. The family lived in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Atlanta, within sight of the Pullman Railyard. Kirkwood was still rural enough at the time for Fred to hunt rabbits there. And Fred began his lifelong spiritual journey with Kirkwood Methodist Church.

Eager to serve his country, Fred enlisted in the US Navy soon after graduating from Decatur Boys High School in 1944. His requests to be assigned overseas with his friends were denied because the Navy decided he was more valuable as a Chemical Warfare instructor, so Fred served his time stateside.

After his Honorable Discharge as a Seaman at the end of World War II, after serving his “One year, one month, and one day,” Fred enrolled at Emory University, where he earned his degree in Chemistry. Fred often recounted tales from his college days that revolved around dating and his Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers openly breaking the ‘No Alcoholic Beverages’ rule on campus. As he said, “There was no way that anyone was stopping a bunch of veterans only recently home after being in combat from having a drink if they wanted one.” University personnel wisely turned a blind eye so long as things did not get out of hand, including one memorial evening when the Dean was offered a drink as he entered the fraternity house.

Speaking of dating, Fred’s dates were often and varied. And he fondly remembered every girl he dated and every detail of their date. He would wistfully recount who she was, what she wore, where they went, and what they did.

Those university years saw Fred working as well as studying. Among other things, Fred sold jewelry (Including lots of engagement rings to his fraternity brothers!) and was a photography stringer for the Atlanta papers. He spent time with local broadcasters, working and learning the ins and outs of live radio, often sharing tales of near disasters in later life when one thing or another went awry in the broadcast. It sometimes seemed there was not a job he did not hold at one time or another.

Graduation from Emory saw two major events in Fred’s life: Marriage and Career.

Fred married Mary Katherine “Kitty” Barton in December 1956. Their union lasted 36 years, until Katherine’s passing in 1993 and produced three children, Frederick Lloyd (Lynn) Breck, David Barton (Gayle) Breck, and Katherine Anne (Malcom) Griffith, two granddaughters, Lauren Elizabeth Breck and Rebekah Lynn (Jon) Wells, and one great-granddaughter, Lesley Rene Wells.

Fred spent his entire career with Merck & Company, starting as a junior salesman and progressing on through senior regional manager positions before retiring after several decades with the company. During his long career, he was named to the Top 10 Percent of Managers Worldwide list, among many other accolades.

One unofficial record Fred held among the Merck sales force involved his children. Fred was the stereotypical “Traveling Salesman.” This meant being away from home most of the time. Unlike his contemporaries, Fred managed to be home for the birth of all his children. That was no small feat in that era.

Fred later married Eleanor (Kelley) Lynch, who also preceded him in death. Their union lasted 22 years, until Eleanor’s passing in 2016. Through Eleanor, he gained an additional family of Steve (of blessed memory) and Jan (Pollard) Lynch, and Teresa (Lynch) and Stanley Lin. He gained another generation with Steve and Jan’s daughters, Katey (Noah) Rutherford and Kelley Lynch, as well as Teresa and Stanley’s daughters, Danielle and Raleigh. Just a few months before his passing, yet another generation joined in when Katey and Noah added Banks to the family.

Christine’s sons, Hans, Ted, and Luigi Perez joined the family when Fred and Christine married in 2016.

Fred was dedicated, devoted, and very active in the United Methodist Church. Over the years, he held virtually every lay position in the local church, as well as serving on district committees and as a Delegate to the North Georgia Annual Conference. One of his former pastors, Dr. Dee Shellnut, described Fred thusly, “He was a pastor’s dream member as worship was at the center of his life, he served with joy and gave of his time, his talents, his money and his witness. He was a statesman of the church and a true friend. He raised his children to love the church and the Christ of the church. In short, he was a faithful follower who always brought wisdom, humor, the love of Christ and dedication wherever he went.” Fred was a founding member of Wesley Way United Methodist Church.

Fred was an accomplished woodworker, making an offering of many of his works to the church and many of its members. He and his group of fellow woodworking enthusiasts, known as “The Splinter Cell,” happily spent many hours over many years sharing their knowledge, skill, and, most importantly, their fellowship. Fred also spent many happy hours in his woodshop with his sons and granddaughters, and with his close friend, Perry Crowe, whose support for Fred and Christine in the past few years is beyond price.

Fred was also an avid photographer for many years. He put his chemistry background to good use, developing and printing his photographs in the darkroom built in the basement of his home. His extensive and fully equipped darkroom was the envy of many professional photographers. And like any good photographer, he spent more time behind the camera than in front of it.

Doubtless, Fred is happily reunited with family and friends who have greeted him in his heavenly reward and relishing in all the cold fried chicken he wishes.

The funeral service for Fred I. Breck, Jr. will be on Tuesday, March 18, at 11:00 am at Wesley Way United Methodist Church, 150 John Wesley Way, McDonough, GA 30252, Rev. Michelle Strall & Lauren Breck officiating. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 – 11:00 am before the service. There will be a reception after the service, also at the church. The interment will be at 3:00 pm at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens, 3594 Stone Mountain Highway, Snellville, GA 30039.

If you would like to make a donation in memory of Fred Breck, the family has designated Wesley Way UMC, 150 John Wesley Way, McDonough, GA 30252.