Frederic L. 'Fred' Priest

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Frederic L. (F.L.) "Fred" Priest, age 92, of North Fort Myers, Fla., passed away on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013.

Born Feb. 26, 1921 in Greencastle, he was the son of Wilbur B. and Alice E. (Obenchain) Priest.

He was a 1939 graduate of Bainbridge High School and had attended Indiana University.

He married Violet (Sanders) Priest on June 14, 1942, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 28, 1997.

He married Sheila Kay (Skinner) Bussard Priest on Aug. 20, 2007.

He served in the United States Air Force having served in World War II, the Korean War, Cuban Crisis and in Vietnam, retiring as a lieutenant colonel from the United States Air Force Reserve, having served from 1942 to 1978.

Fred had been a supervisor in material control with Allison's Division of General Motors, retiring in 1980 after 37 years of service.

He was a member of the VFW and America Legion, Greencastle; Bainbridge Masonic Lodge, having served as past master, secretary and treasurer for several years; the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge of Florida.

Survivors include his wife, Sheila Priest of Ft. Myers, Fla.; a son, David L. (Mimi) Priest of Indianapolis; a daughter, Melanie (Jim) Fasone of Indianapolis; stepsons Jim (Susie) Bussard of Columbus, Ohio, Bruce Bussard of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Derek (Jennifer) Bussard of Clearview, Fla.; grandchildren Wes (Melanie) Priest, Kyle (Ruth) Priest, Chad (Caitlin) Priest, Toni (Rob) McEwan, and Leslie Fasone; six step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet Priest, and a brother, Reid Priest.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Bainbridge Methodist Church, 302 Main St., Bainbridge, with Pastor Randall Boys officiating.

Interment with military honors will follow at the Bainbridge Cemetery.

Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until time of service on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice Hope, 2830 Diplomat Parkway, West Cape Coral, FL 33993.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.Hopkins-Rector.com.