Fredrick H. Hendrix's Obituary
Age 85 of Tacoma passed away peacefully at home with his beloved wife Roswitha at his side on April 8th, 2017. He was born in Piney Flats, Tennessee on January 29th, 1932 the son of Harry and Selma Hendrix. After graduating from Mary Hughes High School in Piney Flats in 1949, he attended East Tennessee State College in Johnson City, TN for one year. He then went to work for the Southern Railway Company located in Johnson City, TN. In 1951 he made the life changing decision to enlist in the United States Air Force. He absolutely loved his military career that took him to assignments throughout the world which included France, three different assignments to Germany and Turkey in addition to multiple assignments in the United States. He achieved the rank of CMSGT retiring from the US Air Force at McChord AFB, WA in 1977. Fred continued his professional career working for the United States Postal Service rising to support manager in Olympia, WA. He fully retired in 1994. Fred loved his family dearly, his beautiful wife of 62 years Roswitha, sons Michael Hendrix(Sheryl) of Camas, WA, Duane Hendrix(Teri) of Puyallup, WA and daughter Patricia Kosar(John) of Rochester Hills, MI. His beloved three grandchildren Nicole Kosar of Washington DC, Zachary Hendrix of Puyallup, WA and Meagan Hendrix of Portland, OR. His family also included his two nephews in Germany, Mario Lenz(Ellen) of Otzenhausen and Martin Lenz(Barbel) of Werbeln. Fred, the southern gentlemen lived his life with integrity, vigor and compassion that was genuine and deeply felt by his family and friends. He rarely missed any of his grandchildren’s events that included too many sporting events to list but he was always there to support his grandkids and they loved having him there in support. To his grandchildren he was known as “OPA” to which his eyes would light up with joy whenever he heard the term. Beyond his family, his passions included home repair and remodeling, traveling and 1960’s western movies and television shows. He was a diehard Seahawks football fan and was not to be disturbed during “Seahawk” football Sunday – Go Hawks! He loved raising his 12th Man flag on his flag pole on game day. Fred was truly an angel from heaven that touched everyone he came in contact with in a very special and unique way.
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