Frederick Alward Alexander

December 4, 1925 - October 20, 2014

Frederick Alward Alexander, 88, of Huntington, West Virginia and formerly of Charleston, passed away at his home in Huntington on October 20, 2014.

He was born December 4, 1925 in Newark, Ohio, the fourth child of Clyde Llewelyn and Mabel Gertrude Beaver Alexander. At age 5, the family moved to Charleston, WV where he attended public schools and graduated from Charleston High School in 1943.

He attended Ohio State University where he fulfilled his dream of playing snare drum in the OSU marching band. In February 1944, he felt it a privilege to serve in WWII as a B17 ball turret gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corp. In 1949, he began a career at the C & P Telephone Company in Charleston, WV as a coin collector. Working in various positions in Huntington and Charleston, he retired after 40 years of service as Personnel Supervisor in the Human Resources Department.

Blessed with 25 years of retirement, he lived life to the fullest, enjoying time spent at his second home at Buckeye Lake, Ohio, OSU football and marching band, traveling to many sporting events and his latest interest, genealogy.

He was a member of Central Christian Church of Huntington, the Telephone Pioneers, a Kentucky Colonel, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, American Legion Post 16, Huntington Masonic Lodge 53 AF and AM, 32 degree Mason in the Scottish Rite, and Beni Kedem Shrine Temple where he served as Potentate in 1994 and was a drummer and Past President of the Gold Band. He was also a Past President of Huntington Shrine Club.

Fred was a loving husband and best friend to Karen, devoted father to Jeanne Ann, friend to many and will be missed by all. Surviving wife, Karen June Lutz Alexander; daughter Jeanne Ann Alexander Harper; son-in-law, Stephen Edward Harper, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sister, Frances Elizabeth Alexander Shropshire; brothers' Robert Otis and Richard Wayne Alexander.

The family would like to thank the hospice of Huntington and give special thanks to caregiver, Evelyn Skeens. Friends may call from 6-8 PM on Thursday, October 23 at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary in Huntington, WV. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 24 at 1 PM with the Reverend Kevin Snow officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery in Ironton, Ohio with Military Rites.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Christian Church, 1202 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701 or the Shrine Children's Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

Fred was a member of the marching band in 1943 and 1944. He played snare drum.