Carl Craighead Fritsche Sr.

Carl Craighead Fritsche, Sr.

Of Alexandria, Virginia, on August 11, 2018 at age 86. Craig was born December 26, 1931 in Richmond, Virginia, the son of the late Carl Berges Fritsche and Virginia Beverley Caldwell.

He attended the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1953. After graduation, he accepted a position with Creole Petroleum Corporation before attending the United States Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was commissioned an ensign in December, 1954. He attended the U.S. Naval School, Explosive Ordinance Disposal and was assigned as a First Lieutenant on a minesweeper, the U.S.S. Pinnacle out of Charleston, S.C. He spent the last year of active duty as an instructor at the Explosive Ordinance Disposal School. In 1959, he joined Melpar as a mechanical engineer. Melpar was later acquired by Raytheon Company, where Craig worked as a defense contractor and traveled to many foreign countries. He retired in 2001.

Craig was part of a group of Alexandrians who restored and reopened the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in 1947. Craig was also an active member of Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and served as a Sunday School teacher, Vestry member, Senior Warden, Chairman of the Every Member Canvas, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Secretary and Treasurer of Christ Church Foundation. Craig was also a Trustee and President of the Diocesan Missionary Society of Virginia. He also worked in the Boy Scouts program for many years.

Craig is survived by his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Mary Ambler Moncure Fritsche. They would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on September 6, 2018. Craig is also survived by his sons, Carl Craighead Fritsche, Jr. of Clifton, Virginia, and John Moncure Fritsche of Burke, Virginia; daughters-in-law Elizabeth Tart Fritsche and Mary Avera Fritsche; and four wonderful grandchildren, Olivia Moncure Fritsche Bean, Virginia Lyn Fritsche, John Moncure Fritsche, Jr., and Robert Ambler Moncure Fritsche; and also by Olivia’s husband , Richard David Bean, III, as well as many beloved cousins and family members. Craig was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Beverley Fritsche Jacob Jack, and his brother, David Caldwell Fritsche.

Craig loved nothing more than spending time with family and friends, and his family will always remember his loving spirit and wonderful smile.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 118 North Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia. A reception will immediately follow the service at Belle Haven Country Club, 6023 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, Virginia. Graveside will follow at Aquia Episcopal Church, 2938 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, Virginia.
Memorial gifts can be made to the Christ Church Foundation, 118 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD, 21741, or Shrine Mont Conference and Retreat Center, P.O. Box 10, Orkney Springs, VA 22845.

The family is very grateful for the loving care provided to Craig from the nurses, caregivers, hospice nurses, and clergy of Goodwin House, Alexandria.

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