Frederick James Seitz

Frederick James Seitz, 81, died Oct. 26, 2022, at Gosnell Health and Rehab. He was born March 21, 1941, in Dyess to James and Ruth Seitz. Frederick had a contagious smile that lit up the room. He never met a stranger and never forgot a face. He joined the United States Navy in May of 1959 and served on many tours of sea duty during his honorable 20 year career as an aviation mechanic. In June 1967 Frederick was in squadron VAW-123 which set sail aboard USS Forrestal for Vietnam becoming the first East Coast VAW squadron to go to war. He was aboard the USS Forrestal when a portion of the aircraft carrier went up in flames off the coast of Vietnam in 1967. He retired in May of 1979 aboard the USS Nimitz stationed in Norfolk, Vir.

Frederick was a member of 40 & 8 Voiture West Memphis American Legion Post 53 and loved to socialize at all the dinners and special events. He enjoyed gardening and loved flowers, had a passion for reading, and was an advocate and supporter of the public library and local EMT communities. Frederick was an extraordinary man with a big heart.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Cobb Seitz; parents, James and Ruth (Matlock) Seitz; brother Terry Seitz; niece Kristi Seitz Chandler, and sister-in-law, Martha Seitz.

Frederick leaves behind two daughters, Cindi Cutts of Winter Haven, Fla., and Lynn (Tim) Frerichs of Hollywood, Md.; stepson, Myron (Caroline) Brand of Elyria, Ohio; five grandchildren, Amy (Gina) Lucci, Cristi (Cameron) Manchester of Erie, Penn., Lindsey (Andrew) Anderson of Daytona Beach, Fla., Matthew Hardman of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Shawnee Frerichs of Lexington Park, Md.; two great- grandchildren, Morgan Manchester and Taylor Manchester; brother, Jon Mark Seitz of Bartlett, Tenn.; nieces Miki Bryant, Kelli Edmonds and Julie Bruce; nephew Mark Seitz along with many great nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.

There will be a memorial service at Connection Church in Blytheville with pastor Paul Winters officiating. Following the service Frederick will be laid to rest at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers please consider giving to a local Wounded Warrior Project and/or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Tri-City LLC Crematory Funeral Home is honored and privileged to serve the Seitz family. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.Tri-CityLLC.com.