Frederick William “Fritz” Greenawalt, 72, of Myerstown, PA, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at his residence. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 30, 1947. Fritz was the son of the late Clarine (Nashold) and Donald Greenawalt. He was the husband of Barbara J. (Stewart) Greenawalt. Fritz married his beloved wife on June 25, 2016.
Throughout his youth, Fritz enjoyed sports and was an avid football player. He was blessed with numerous talents, which he utilized throughout his professional career. He was a scout helicopter pilot and a flight instructor during the Vietnam War. Later, he was promoted to the position of Flight Commander in the U.S. Army. Fritz was a high school teacher who later went on to school administration becoming the Principal of Vision Christian Academy, as well as the Pastor of the Church of God, in Pocomoke, Maryland. He was a gifted artist, passionate about drawing, painting, and sculpting. He had a love for singing and playing the guitar, banjo, harmonica, and drums. Fritz thoroughly enjoyed television programming, museums, and exhibits regarding the NASA Space Program. Fritz was a faculty member of the Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts, where he was a computer graphics/art professor. Fritz completed his 17-year career, as a computer programmer, with Heat and Control in Lititz, PA.
He was well known throughout the community, and self-proclaimed, “I am the undefeated, undisputed, heavyweight thumb wrestling champion of the world!”
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters, Laana (Art) Layman, of Oklahoma City, OK, Sonja Hipkins, of Houston, TX, Hannah (Chris) Ellis, of Huntsville, AL, Tabitha (Everett) DeWolfe, of Conroe, TX, Lydia Hancock, of Austin, TX, Ruth-Anna McDonald, (Darius Ike), of Shenandoah, TX; 16 grandchildren; brother, Rodgers (Katy) Greenawalt, of Sumter, SC, brother, Stanton (Jane) Greenawalt, of Myrtle Beach, SC, sister, Janet (Robert) Smith, of Rixeyville, VA, brother, Joseph (Barbara) Greenawalt, of LaPlata, MD, brother, John (Steve) Greenawalt, of North Potomac, MD, sister, Deborah Golanski, of Plano, TX; 17 nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and nephews. Fritz was preceded in death by brothers, Donald Greenawalt, Jr., and Bradford Greenawalt; and a grandson, Elijah Ellis.
A public viewing will be held Thursday, August 27, 2020, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Mt. Aetna Bible Church, 11 N. Chestnut St., Mt. Aetna. Then, a private memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. The private Interment, with military honors, will be conducted at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. The public is invited to live-stream the services online.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Aid Ministries (CAM).