Fred S. ‘Fritz’ Smith, 96, of Atchison, KS, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at the Atchison Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

Memorial services will be 4:00 pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at the Trinity Episcopal Church with Fr. Jon Hullinger, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, celebrant. The body has been cremated and interment of the cremated remains will follow the memorial service in the Trinity Episcopal Garden. Following the committal service in the church garden, there will be a reception in the church hall for family and friends. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Trinity Episcopal Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home. The Becker-Dyer- Stanton Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Fritz was born on October 15, 1920 in Atchison, KS, the son of Eugene and Ada (Harrison) Smith. Fritz graduated from Atchison High School and also Kansas University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. From June 1942 until October 1945, during World War II, Fritz served in the European Theater as Sergeant (Sgt.) with the Anti-Aircraft Artillery. Upon returning home from his military service, Fritz was Finance Officer and Vice-President of Commerce Acceptance Company in Atchison. Later, Fritz became a Loan Officer with Valley State Bank, Atchison, retiring in July 1983.

Fritz was an active member at Atchison’s Trinity Episcopal Church, where served as its Treasurer for 38 years (retiring from that position in 1990), sang in the choir and was a lay reader. Fritz was a former trustee of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas and member of its Planning Committee; former board director of St. John’s Episcopal School in Salina; member and former chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board; agency representative for the United Way; former director of the Kansas Children’s Service League; director and former President of the Atchison Community Concert Association; member of the Atchison Board of Education from 1965 to 1973; Member and former President of the Atchison Rotary Club, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest honor; member of the American Legion Post # 6 and VFW Post 1175, both of Atchison. In 1990, a bell in the belfry of Trinity Episcopal Church was installed and named in honor of Fritz being a longtime choir member.

On November 14, 1945 Fritz married Jane Robinson, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles W. Robinson, in Atchison. Jane preceded Fritz in death on February 21, 2009. He was also preceded by his parents, three brothers and four sisters.

Fritz is survived by a son, Charles Robinson Smith and his wife, Iris, of San Antonio, TX; two grandchildren, Ashley and Caitlin; several nieces and nephews.