Merle Alton Fry

Fry, Merle Alton, 90, passed away January 7, 2017. He was born in Letts Iowa to Emma Lecrethia Westbrook and Frank Grant Fry. In his early years the family moved to Muscatine, Iowa. Merle was the youngest of thirteen children; four girls and nine boys.

He served in the Navy in WWII. He saw action in the South Pacific while serving on the USS Vincennes. Seven of the nine boys served concurrently in WWII and all returned home safely.

After the war Merle attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma where he met and married Velma Jeane Fackler in 1951 and were married 65 years. Merle worked 36 years for Boeing. He started on the Flight Line and later as Electronics manager. Throughout his career he worked on the B-47 and B-52 flight and delivery, 737 in Seattle, Saturn Apollo Program in Cape Canaveral, B-IB Avionics and helped with the printed circuit manufacturing cards in Wichita.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings. He is survived by wife Velma Fry; children, Linda Johnson (Bill) of Wichita, James Fry (Karen) of Derby, grandchildren; Derek Johnson, Christina Johnson, Kasie Jones and Michael Fry; great-grandson, Taylor Henry. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews.

Memorial service is at 11 a.m. Wednesday January 11, all at Smith Mortuary. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to Kindred Hospice, 2622 W. Central Ave #401, Wichita, KS 67203.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

11:00 AM

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