Member Charles W. Fritz, 78, of Beisel Road in Lehighton died Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 in the Lehigh Valley Hospice, Allentown. He was the husband of LaRue Fritz. They were married for 51 years. 

He was a foreman for the H.J. Williams Company, York, Pa., and for Semmel Excavating, Allentown, until retiring in 1995.  Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Ira Fritz and Elssa (Sittler) Fritz.  He was a member of the Ben Salem United Church of Christ, Lehighton, where he was an elder and a deacon.

Fritz was a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict, having attained the rank of corporal.  He was a member of the Schuylkill Carbon Marine Corps League Detachment 626.  He was a 50-year member of the Shoemaker-Haydt Post 314 American Legion and the AMVETS Post, both of Lehighton; a charter member of the Mahoning Valley Fire Company; and a member of the Bowmanstown, Franklin Township and Lehighton Fire companies.  He belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge No. 621, Lehighton; the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Pa.; Bethlehem Forest No. 61; and the Lehigh Consistory Scottish Rite. 

Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter Donna, wife of Kevin Lilly of Lehighton; a son Randall, and his wife, Lori, of Macungie; two sisters, Minnie Kershner of New Ringgold and Naomi Steigerwalt of Lehighton; two brothers, Neil, and his wife, Pat, in Oklahoma, and Milo, and his wife, Sandy, of Hazleton; and five grandchildren.  He was also preceded in death by five brothers, Paul, Salem, Mark, Thomas and Ira Jr.; and three sisters, Gladys Barthel, Blanche Steigerwalt and Mary. 

The Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, 2066 W. Penn Pike, Rt. 309, New Ringgold, was in charge of the arrangements.