Clyde Donald Fricks

Clyde Donald Fricks, born August 13, 1924, passed away on Sunday, November 6th, at his home in Franklin, North Carolina.

He was the only child of the late Clyde and Vonnie Fricks of Rome, GA.  He grew up in Rome where he graduated Rome High & Darlington Schools, followed by Georgia Tech, where he earned a BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

After graduation from Tech he attended Navy Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University receiving his commission as Ensign.  He served on active duty for five years in the Navy during WWII and the Korean War and retired from the Naval Reserve in 1964 as a Lt. Commander.

After WWII he was employed as a structural engineer by Southern Services, Inc. in Birmingham, AL.  Work there was the design of steel and reinforced concrete structures for power plants.  While in Birmingham he met and married Hope Davies.

In 1956 he took a job with Pan American World Airways at the Air Force Missile Test Range in Florida.  He worked for Pan Am and subsidiary Pan Am World Services for approximately 30 years.  He was at Cape Canaveral during the early days of the US missile program and was involved in various engineering and support operations over a period of four years.  In 1960 he was transferred to southern Arizona where Pan Am supported US Army drone test operations and to safeguard missile sites in North Dakota.  Back to Florida in 1965, he was supervisor of Civil Engineering at the Missile Test Range before being appointed assistant manager for Pan Am at Kennedy Space Center providing engineering services to NASA.

Later as engineering manager at World Services Florida office, he was responsible for engineering and construction contracts in the US and Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Emirates. Marketing took him to other parts of the Middle East, Far East and Africa.

Clyde was a registered Professional Engineer.  He participated in government and local organizations such as Jaycees, Lions Club, city planning and zoning, and National Contract Management Association.  He was a member of the Episcopal Church where he liked to be involved in minor repair, construction and maintenance projects.

In 1984 he retired from Pan Am and later settled permanently in North Carolina, shortly after his first wife’s death.  He and Sarah Norris Goodwyn were married in 1997 and enjoyed life together in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by Hope Davies Fricks, his first wife of 42 years, and a grandson Kenneth Pell. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, his daughters Sharon Pell and Rebecca Fricks (Roger Molitor); son Richard Fricks (Jennie); stepson Alfred Goodwyn (Marcia); grandson Spencer Molitor; granddaughters Heather Watson and Joy Fricks; step grandsons Sam and Andrew Goodwyn, Richard and David Larson; step granddaughter Rachel Goodwyn and several great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 11, 2016   at 11:00 am at St. Agnes Episcopal Church in Franklin with The Rev. Fred Lindstrom and The Rev. David Webb officiating. Internment of ashes and military honors to be held at the Memorial Garden at Church of the Incarnation in Highlands, North Carolina at 3:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Rector’s Discretionary Fund at All Saints Episcopal Church, 84 Church St. Franklin, NC 28734 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Bryant‑Grant Funeral Home and Cremator is serving the Fricks family. Online condolences are available at bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.