Memorial for Rolland (Todd) Fritz

There were no video or audio recordings made of the memorial, however here are my notes that will be give those that could not make it an opportunity to read what was said in honor of our pop. Thanks to so many friends and family for coming to be with us as remembered his life. - Lonnie

Songs - Allaluia, Trust and obey, I'll fly away, Glorify thy Name, As the Dear

Obituary:

Songs: Stan Lord

Prayer: Daniel Fritz

Memories:

Message:

Songs: Stan Lord

Prayer: Bob Hood

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Welcome – Funerals are often sad – that is why this is not a funeral it is a memorial, a calling to memory some of the events that make up the life of Rolland Fritz.  You will hear me call him, Rolland, Todd, my father, dad or as he preferred from his kids – pop or poppa.

 

Obituary:

Rolland (Todd) Worthy Fritz,  was born September 4, 1930 to Mark & Ogle Fritz. He passed from this life to eternity Sunday October 27, 2013.  He had two brothers, Alvan and his wife Doris Fritz, Arden (Bud) and his wife Barbara Fritz.  He also had four sisters, Verna and Richard Reininger, Erma and Pete Cockrell, Elane and Gene Watkins and Doris and Glen Hughes. Of all the brothers and sisters and their mates only sister Doris and brother-in-law, Gene Watkins are still living.  (There may also be relatives here from the Troubaugh sided of the family) Richard Troubaugh – mom’s sister Barbara Helminger  (son) Mark. Rolland served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War.  He was married to Donna Troubaugh Fritz Dec 13, 1953 Married for for 57 years.  She proceeded him in death December 2010.  Baptized into Christ while serving in the Army. Lem Rogers. They had four children- Lonnie, Jeff- (Landon) Tamara (Tami) & Nathaan Lonnie and his wife Cindy, had three children – Rachel, Amanda, & Daniel all married and giving Todd & Donna four great grandchildren – Megan, Logan, McKinley and Lincoln and one more due on Christmas day. Tami & Husband Turk have two daughters – Donna Jessie (DJ), Casey Landon (Jeff) – a couple of children Nathan and his wife Angela. Lauren, Caity and Jake. In a professional sense, he was known as Rolland or RW Fritz, but don’t call Roland.  Family and friends called him Todd – ask him why one time, and said I don’t know, best I can figure it started when I was a baby, I was the Toddler However, if you didn’t know him and you called him Todd – he would question you about it.  He told the story of one person calling him up and calling him Todd, “I kept trying to think of who he was.  Finally I asked him how he knew me and he said, he didn't.  So I asked him why he kept calling me Todd and told him only my friends call me Todd."

 

He was a gospel preacher in the Church of Christ for 55 years: Polk City, Florida while attending Florida Christian College Gary & Laport, Kingsford Hights, in South Bend Indiana area.  Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, Fort Wayne, Indiana Hicksville, Ohio Gonzales, Louisiana Anahuac, Texas, Woodbury & Columbia, Tennessee Key Largo, Florida.  Lived in Lubbock Tx and Pioneer, Oh. He gave his life in service to the Lord, and loved teaching people the way of the Lord.

 

Songs: Stan Lord

 

Prayer: Daniel Fritz

Daniel Fritz – Growing up, we never lived in the same state as my grandparents.  Almost once a year though we would go see them, or they would come and see us. "So many journeys and adventures were had with Grampa Fritz. riding on a tractor, eating raw potatoes straight from the ground, fishing and hearing him talk to others about his faith. I remember he handed Amanda a Fish Eye, Amanda freaked out, but I thought it was roll on the ground hilarious. 10 years ago, I had a wonderful opportunity that most people don’t ever get to do, I went to Hawaii for my high school graduation trip…. With both sets of grandparents.

He served our nation as a soldier, but more importantly he served our Lord. Miss you pops. Tell grandma we said hi. Love you and will see you again!"

Memories:

Shortly before Donna died, Todd said to Donna, “I’m a little jealous. Of what? she asked. “You get to see Jesus first.” You know that is not true – the part about – Jealous, he was happy for her. It was what both of them lived for, the day of eternity with God.  It was three years ago that she when to her day of eternity… After Todd passed the other day, we decided that the first thing that Donna said to him was, “What took you so long? Prayer to go home on Lord’s Day – On Sunday Morning October 27th I woke and thought and prayed that the Lord’s Day would be a great day for our father to meet His Father – Heavenly Father.  After he passed, I mentioned to my brother Nate, my prayer, he said I prayed the same thing.  At the house Tami was telling him, it was okay, and time for him to go home.  The interesting thing about all this was that the preacher here, Bill Romans unbeknown to him the siblings conversation about the Lord’s Day conversation, he told me that “the last good conversation I had with your dad, he told me, I pray that if the Lord is willing that He takes me home to heaven on the Lord’s Day..’” Before I read some scriptures from the word of God, a book my loved and lived by, I want to read some comments made by family and friends about his passing and his relationship with some many wonderful people.  

 

Family:

Doris Hughes My brother, Todd. Such a good Christian and person. He could always make you laugh and feel good. I will miss him so much along with my other 5 siblings which leaves me the only living sibling. I thank God for taking him to Heaven as that is the place he was seeking for so many years. "Todd ALWAYS had a smile for everyone. He had Bible studies for anyone who wished to attend. He was a good brother and I was always proud of him. He helped so many wayward kids and showed hem the way. I know he was happy to kneel at the foot of our Savior and smile. Thank God for you. I will meet you in the morning, just inside the eastern gate." Barbara Helminger I think pops would be extra proud of you. He truly loved his family and cared about you all. Christine Nuoffer - "The best times I can remember with Uncle Todd and family was when they came to our lake house and camped out. Then he went pancake turtle hunting and made pancake turtle soup. :) what a hoot that was!! " Niece Holly - :-) I'll always hold in very fond memories Uncle Todd babysitting for my 5 brothers and I as children. What a handful but we always had such a ball!! He was so creative and that lasted all his life, as he was used by God to bring others to Christ. I so appreciate the example he and Aunt Donna were to all they touched. Praise God for their lives." Janis Madden - "I loved my Uncle Todd and Donna ! I am so happy that they both passed to be with their God ! They were the most respectable people I have ever known!  The laughter in their home was contagious and their hearts were kind and gentle!  Honesty and love lived there along with their teachings of the BIBLE!  Truly an Amazing Grace ! Thank You Todd   I love you !" Nathan Fritz - I always thought it was entertaining how Pop could take a 2 min joke and turn it into a 20 min story.   Another good memory are the stories of GeeGee and Georgie... When he'd start telling me those stories As a little kid, i would always futilely try to stay just out of reach. Next thing I knew I was getting jerked up and play spanked for something GeeGee and Georgie's mom had told THEM  not to do... Like get hit by a car or train.   Of Course this was only after I suffers the pummeling of the accident in the story first.   And how many times did he show me how a horse chews corn, or a crow lands on a fence as he would quickly put a death grip on my leg, just above the knee. Pop was probably the only dad in history who indulged his youngest son in mousetrap battles... Quickly setting mousetraps and tossing them over barriers such as a couch or dining table at each other.    Also, pop did believe in work ethic.  He worked hard for his family, and that has carried over into my life.  I often remember him saying don't just do the job, do the job right the first time. As to the Lord.  – Lonnie’s note – He would always say what you don’t have in your head, you have to have in your back. In other words, work smart. Tami Mears  -  "my Poppa.  I can't tell all of you the things I want to about my dad. he was the strongest spiritual man I have ever known. He was so tender. My mentor, my strength through some of the hardest times in my life. My rescuer. My example of a godly husband. He taught me unconditional love and forgiveness. He and momma meant so much to all who knew them. I will miss them” “I am so humbled and proud to be daddies little girl as he always called me.  He would always say, “Grow with the knowledge of GOD”  “ Love the Lord your God with fear, all your heart and soul. Live each day as if everyone knows you. See people as God does; with love, compassion, humor, & understanding that no man is perfect. Forgive quickly, pray for all, love the life god gave you, honor GOD, live like its your last day."" Thank you, Pop. I'll see you." Cindy Fritz - "Pop the memories you leave are grounded in our spirit. Thanks for loving people and their souls. Thanks for loving mom so much. Thanks for raising a son like Lonnie. Thanks for showing us how to live in Christ. We'll miss U" Amanda Fritz Scheid – I loved my grandpa Fritz, he was the only one I ever let call me “Mandy” I remember the Adventures of Gigi and Gorgie, Rachel Fritz Holtkamp – I remember one day walking with grandpa and he picked a dandelion and ate it! I said, grandpa, you just ate a flower and he said there even better if you cook them – they called greens.  

Friends:

Rita Pagan Lonnie, you will have gobs and gobs of notes of love, joy and sympathy from so many people. It is a testimonial to how wonderful your dad was. Everyone that knew him has been blessed in this life tremendously. Please count me as one of them. I still have his poem on my refrigerator (13 years later) that he wrote to my kids after the trip you all made to see us in Bulgaria. Jenny Beaverson Helmick I'm sorry to hear he is gone, but smile at the fact that he is in a far better place and he is now seeing all the things he preached about for so long. Love that man and your family so much!!! Warren Berkley - His passion to teach and convert lost people -- very clear not long after I met him in Texas. Great man. Glenda Rodgers "Such a wonderful, dear, sweet man! It was a pleasure meeting him & Donna in Lubbock, TX for the time they were there. Lots of fun, wonderful to talk to, & loved the endless stories! A truly good man who worked for our Lord  til the very end. A great listener. Now he truly has reaped his reward in God's Glory. All the wonderful saints he gets to be with. Praise God."   Patty (Brown) Allison - "Todd baptized me and my future husband many years ago.  Great memories of years spent worshipping with the Fritz family in Fort Wayne, and later in a tiny congregation in Hicksville, OH.  He is remembered as a kind, gentle soul who was sincere in his love for the Lord and his service to others." Karen Walker  - "One of the things I learned from your dad was how emotions are not the indications of faith/salvation. He told the story about how thought he was saved because of a feeling he had and it turned out to be heartburn." Karl Flem  - "Truly a good man, a great man, and dedicated gospel preacher has fallen this day. What a beautiful life and example that your parents have left behind. Marion Campbell - "I will always remember Todd and Donna's years in Woodbury.  They were a wonderful couple and good friends.  I feel certain that they are together now in a wonderful place, the family can take comfort in that." Ann Ward - Todd Fritz was a very dear friend to me. I have known him for many years. He was my preacher and teacher of God's word. He and his wife Donna were very hospitable.  They always had people over to their house.  We had a lot of fun times together.  He and his wife Donna will truly be missed," Fred Shewmaker -
I will be eternally grateful to Todd for the help he gave my grandson, Jared, when he was in Lubbock.  I am confident Jared is a better personal worker than he would have been without the influence Todd had on him. Sonia & Don Brady - We have wonderful memories of both Rolland and Donna., great times we shared together in the work of the Lord when they were in Key Largo and we were in Miami and Hollywood. Wonderful people, who loved God, loved one another and loved all around them. We really had some fun times together. They opened their arms and hearts to our daughter and son-in-law and their "kids" when they moved to Key Largo. They were very generous people! Anthony Howse "The first time I met Todd and Donna was when they came to Woodbury, TN. Being involved with the unpacking, I had to laugh seeing all the chicken raisin supplies, rabbit cages, strap lumber etc." "I asked myself didn't we hire a Gospel Preacher? Little did I know, for the next twenty plus years knowing Todd and his family, my life would be enriched in so many ways. All my memories are Precious." "For me, Todd was more than a Gospel Preacher. He was a man that lived by the Godly Principles he believed in. Todd showed us all how as a Christian we must step up to the plate, fight for the cause of Christ." "I would never had thought, this rabbit lovin, chicken raisin, handyman/Preacher would turn out to be one of my best friends and Bible Teaching Preachers I have ever known. I will always love, respect, and hold in high regard my Christian Brother ~ Todd"   Petr Hancik  from the Czech Republic, now living in Ireland sent this message: Todd & Donna were and still are and always will be very special to me and also to my brother. They were first ones who start studied the bible with us and because of them we know the church of Christ. They were to me like a second parents - they were very special to me, really. I still have some audio tapes he gave me when I was in Florida when he was preaching. He was a man with strong faith, very good preacher.

 

My Thoughts and Memories:

I remember as a small child, he would take me to the office where he would be painting a bed sheet sermon.  He would give me a memory verse and then record me saying it back to him on his reel to reel recorder.  He thought it was pretty cute that I said, “Trust in the Lord and do not put “confurdence” in men. He would then tell everyone, and when he could he would have me quote it.  As a little guy I was sure what the big deal was.  …Scared to this day…. Some of my earliest memories. When I was almost 11 years old the Fritz family had another addition to the family – Nathan was born.   He called him his little fella – Even into Nate’s adulthood, I would hear pop call Nate “Fella.” One day He took me Fishing, must have been about 14 or 15 – We were catching fish like crazy – Nice eating kind.  Both us had two poles going at a time.  When someone yells from another boat, “Hey, you all catching any fish over there? And my honest father to a fault, said, “Oh, four or five”… and then in a voice only the two of us could hear said “…a minute.” Never laugh so hard. Another good memory Hunting – Jeff – Both shot a rabbit – Pop, the guy that would stop for road kill, said -it is worthless mincemeat.  We all had a good laugh. Pop was all about us kids having “chores” – one of mine was often mowing the grass – a big yard. I remember one time he told me to mow the grass, and then went off to the office.  I tried and tried and couldn’t get the old thing started.  He came home and set out to fix the lawnmower and found that there was just water in the gas.  Next time I wanted to get out of mowing the grass, guess what I put in the gas? Yep, not little, a lot.  Not a really good idea. When we moved to the farm, pop immediately began raising pigs.  Oh did they smell! He would say, smells like money.  One day, one of the stray people he was trying to get on the right path came to the house and told pop that he had bought a case of beer and decided he shouldn’t drink it and wanted pop to get rid of it for him or he would be forced to drink it.  Pop was glad to oblige – he asked me if I wanted to see something funny. Of course…. He empty out the water trough and poured in the beer, and when the pigs started drinking it they were squealing with delight and we were rolling on ground laughing. Almost Burning down the house – WD 40 can, it caught the curtains and him on fire. Curtains went in the sink with water, but he is on fire – drop and roll right? His thought was get to the dinning room where he could roll up in a rug if necessary.  That was his mistake, too much thinking, with every step the fire was growing and I didn’t know what he was thinking. I was playing football at the time, you run when you should go down, I tackle you. Ouch! Now not only does he have 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his arms hands and face – he has 3 broken ribs.  Again, I say ouch – but he saved the house and I helped him to remember not to do anything that crazy again. Sometimes he had a hard, brash exterior – but he was an ol’ softy at heart: Wedding – First asked him if he would marry us, he said he would break down crying.  At the wedding he came into the room I was getting ready, think he wanted to give some words of wisdom – he opened his mouth and tears poured out of his eyes.   Prayer -  

 

Message:

Longsuffering Sermon I have been in California preaching for the last 15 years.  Three years at the current congregation, and 12 years at the previous church of 200 people.  My folks had several occasions to come out and see the grandkids and we got a little of their attention.  On such occasions I would usually ask my dad to speak during the Sunday evening service.  Usually by the evening service, folks were tired and I would normally preach about 25 minutes or so.  Almost exactly 10 years ago this month I asked him to preach what turned out to be the last sermon I remember hearing him preach.  Now here is what is going to shock you, I can remember exactly what he preached, and decided to make it the springboard for my scriptural thoughts in this memorial.  You want to know what he spoke about, and why I remember it so vividly 10 years later?  His title was – Longsuffering! He spoke for an hour and 5 minutes.  So, in honor of Rolland W. Fritz, what are you doing for the next hour and 5 minutes?  Okay, maybe we won’t go based on time, but on content.   1) Literally, it means being "long-tempered" (the opposite of short-tempered)       2) It is defined as "patience, forbearance, in working toward the goal.       3) "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of challenges.  It is the idea of diligently focused on the goal!  In our case, what is the goal in life? Get to heaven. Is that road always going to be easy? No way!  So give up? No Way! Be longsuffering, strive for the goal, don’t ever give up.  I want to ask you at the outset, doesn’t that describe Todd, Rolland, Pop Fritz?  Once I remembered his last lesson, I also remembered that he had created a Powerpoint for the lesson on my computer, which I was then able to find.  Here are a few of the scriptures he brought out in the lesson. God is our example of patience and longsuffering – 2 Pet 3:9, 15 – 9. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but bis patient toward you, cnot wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 13. But according to His apromise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,  15 and regard the apatience of our Lord as salvation; Because He wants all to be saved. Repent – Acts 2:38 In the days of Noah – 1 Pet 3:18-20  For aChrist also died for sins bonce for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might cbring us to God, having been put to death din the flesh, but made alive ein the 1spirit;  19 in 1which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,  20 who once were disobedient, when the apatience of God bkept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of cthe ark, in which a few, that is, deight epersons, were brought safely through the 1water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—bnot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God 1for a cgood conscience—through dthe resurrection of Jesus Christ,    22 awho is at the right hand of God, bhaving gone into heaven, cafter angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. Paul – 1 Tim 1:12-16;  Phil 3:7-12 7          But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8          More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of aknowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9          and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10        that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and cthe fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11        in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12        Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

 

Hospitality If you have known my parents you will also know them as truly given to hospitality.  My father was never appointed as an elder, but he always fulfilled the qualification of being hospitable, maybe to a fault. Some people bring home stray dogs – pop would often bring home stray people.  Mom would feed them, maybe some potato soup or something like it, and pop would be feeding them the word of God. Often they would give them a place to stay until they got on their feet.  Sometimes they would steal from them, but they never got jaded. Others will have there place in heaven because of my parents being modern day Aquila & Pricilla – taking people aside to show them the way of truth more accurately.  It was not just strangers that were recipients of their hospitality; they would often have the whole church in their home. Potlucks on the farm are still remembered with great fondness.  

 

 His Faith and Hope were always in the Lord

1 Peter 1:3-4, 8,9 (NASB) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16- 5:8  (NASB) 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Ephesians 1:5-6  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.   

Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

I have been privileged to have been loved by a wonderful mother and father – adopted as a son.  And though them come to know the love and adoption of my Heavenly Father and my brother and Savior – Jesus Christ.

A couple of months ago when Nate and I were out visiting him. We were sitting out by the little lake by Tami’s house and we were asking him questions. What is your favorite verse, - all of them. Different questions to make him think.  He had a hard time getting his words out. But he was having a great day.  I then asked him, pop, what do you think heaven is going to be like? He looked around at us and the lake and setting and said in the strongest, clearest voice I had heard out of him in years, “Well, probably just like this.” I liked that.  But I suspect that it turned out to be far greater than our earthly conversation. Rom 8:18-19

18       For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

19       For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10    aFor to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Cor 2:9-10)

But that realization of heaven for him, leaves us here. Very difficult on a daughter who had taken care of him for the last few years. Yet God is the God of all comforts, be it daughter, sister, sons or friends comfort and strength is found only God. Sad thing the world in the loss of a dear loved one will turn to try to find answer in the bottom of a bottle or a pill to take away the pain.  God is the only true source of healing. 1 Thes 4:13 – We grieve… But not like those that have no hope. Sure even when a Christian that has attained the age of 83,  there is a grieving process – you miss the hugs, and the conversation and so much else about the essence of  a person. Yet, because of our born again hope of a Christian it is not the same grieving that someone that has no hope. Let me close by finishing the passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NASB) 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Songs: Stan Lord

Prayer: Bob Hood