James Earl Frederick Sr.

James Earl Frederick, Sr, Master Sergeant Retired completed his earthly journey and passed into Eternal life on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at his home, surrounded by family in San Antonio, Texas. He had lived 87 years including two unexpected years gifted by God’s mercy and grace.

Jim, also known as Mr. Jim, was born on 10/30/1938 at home in Bushy Fork Township, Hurtle Mills, North Carolina to Thomas Earl Frederick and Lottie Eldora Smith. His mother died when he was only 9 years old and he and his older sister Elvira went to live at the Oxford Orphanage in Oxford, North Carolina. His younger brother Ted was too young so he was cared for by family members. Jim left the orphanage at 16 and hitch-hiked to Michigan where at 17 he enlisted in the Air Force and was trained as a Veterinary Technician and Food Inspector. He traveled extensively through Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, during the first few years of his military service. He cultivated a taste for the food and was always looking for restaurants that served authentic Asian cuisine here in the States. His next assignment was Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas.

Twenty-one and a half years of service took him to every State, 28 foreign countries and 4 US Territories. Much of the Stateside travel was by motorcycle, and he had plenty of stories. Through the years, he had played sports, raced motorcycles on flat track, participated in a variety of social activities and attended a variety of events including motorcycle and NASCAR races, Eating out was a frequent occurrence. He chose a variety of restaurants and food. Food servers all over town knew him by his first name, and he knew theirs. He also enjoyed dancing - mostly Country Western and later Square Dancing where he met his wife Kathy, married and had two sons. At that time he gave up his motorcycle and spent more time with his number one hobby - FISHING. He eventually bought all kinds of fishing gear and a boat which got plenty of use. When the family was stationed in Puerto Rico in 1972, he used his fishing skills to guide the visiting military officers to the prime fishing lakes. After the base was closed, he was assigned to Valdosta, Georgia followed by Guam. Then he returned to San Antonio to retire in 1977. He spend some of his retirement years as Manager of the Used Truck lot at Gillespie Ford on Broadway.

Jim was a social person and had a great memory and sense of humor which made him an entertaining story-teller. He also loved to listen to and sing along with the old Country and Bluegrass Gospel songs. When the TV was on, he was watching some kind of sports. He followed teams like Duke, Spurs, Dallas Cowboys, Yankees or any team with exceptional players. On the weekends, it was NASCAR races. If he couldn’t find sports, he would turn to Country Gospel shows, the ones that brought back the classic Country artists and songs.

Some medical issues including bypass surgery in 1989, and dialysis and a kidney transplant in 2001 caused him to fully retire (from working, not from fishing of course, until he no longer could safely get into the boat). Great care from his family, and friend and kidney doctor, Flavio Alvarez, helped extend his life, especially the last two years, which gave us as a family time to grow together as we cared for him and took turns staying with him when he couldn’t be alone.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Lottie Frederick, and his sister Elvira Dickerson and her husband Buck.

He is survived by his brother Ted Frederick, Ted’s wife Bobbie and their sons, Jim’s nephews, Chad and Ronald, in North Carolina.

He is also survived by Kathy Frederick his friend, care giver and former wife, their sons James JR and wife Debbie, and John; grandchildren, Ashley Brietzke and husband Caleb, Fallon, James III, and Lilly; great-grandchildren Emily, Charlotte and baby girl Brietzke; and many nieces and nephews in Texas, Massachusetts, Colorado, Florida and North Carolina.

If you would like to make a donation in Jim’s honor, we recommend the National Kidney Foundation; http://www.nationalkidneyfoundation.org, or American Kidney Fund; http://www.kidneyfund.org which is focused on kidney transplants.