Ralph Friters
Ralph Friters, 93, of Willow Road, Karns City, a retired Petrolia businessman and a former Fairview Township supervisor, died at 7:40 p.m. Monday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Friters was born in Criswell, Perry Township, Armstrong County, on Aug. 7, 1919. He was the son of Arnold and Julia Rudish Friters.
He was a graduate of Fairview Township Karns City High School. Ralph was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations, and was stationed in the South Pacific.
Mr. Friters was a member of the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in North Oakland.
He enjoyed flowers, gardening, yardwork, playing cards and spending time with his grandchildren. Ralph looked forward to yearly fishing trips to Canada.
He retired following more than 40 years of service at the Witco Chemical Co. in Petrolia. He owned and operated a Sunoco station in Petrolia, first with his business partner, John Gray, and later he operated the business on his own as Friters Sunoco. He also served as a Fairview Township supervisor.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred F. Vensel Friters, who he married in Butler, on Aug. 21, 1948. Also surviving are three children, Patrick R. Friters and his wife, Christy, Linda M. Volaric and her husband, Glenn, and James D. Friters and his wife, Sherry, all of Karns City; four grandchildren, Michael Friters and his wife, Gwynn, of Boynton Beach, Fla., Capt. Matthew Friters, serving with the U.S. Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and his wife, Jackie, of Bel Air, Md., Noah G. Volaric, and Brittney N. Friters of Karns City; five great- grandchildren, Audrey, Ryan, Jonathan, Alexandria and Tyler; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Candy A. Friters, and a brother, Theodore Friters.
FRITERS — Friends of Ralph Friters, who died Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.A funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Douglas E. Dorula, pastor of the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Bradys Bend, officiating. Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home.Interment will be at Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.
