John C. Fretz

Jack C. Fretz, age 83, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, January 1, 2009 at home after a short illness.

A viewing will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2009 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center Relief Society Room.

A funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2009 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center with Bishop Mont Sharp officiating. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

He was born April 26, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Clarence Morris Fretz and Laura Pennington Fretz. During World War II and the Korean Conflict he served in the United States Navy. He was a quartermaster on a destroyer and on an aircraft carrier. On March 5, 1945 in Elkton, Maryland he married Gloria Blakey and in 1951 they moved to Glendale, California. They had four children. Jack worked for Prudential Insurance Company for 35 years, retiring in 1988. In 1979 he moved from Glendale, California to Grants Pass.

Jack was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Riverside Ward. He also belonged to the Rogue Valley Rose Society.

He enjoyed acting with the Rogue Community College theatre group and enjoyed pastimes in his garden and chocolate making.

In addition to his wife, Gloria Fretz of Grants Pass; he is survived by a son, Albert Fretz of Salt Lake City, Utah; a sister, Eleanor McGlaughlin of New Smyrna, Florida; 17 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, John David Fretz in 1999 and two daughters, Marcia Joyce Deifenderfer in 1996 and Claudia Ruth Stevens in 1998.