Obituary of Donald Calvin Fritz, Sr.

KINGSPORT — Donald Calvin Fritz Sr. took his final breath on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at Holston Manor.

Don was born on August 25, 1941, in Kingsport to Theodore Calvin Fritz and Bernice Powers Fritz. He graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School and Virginia Tech. Don was a certified public accountant and worked at Tennessee Eastman Company for 30 years.

After retiring from Eastman, Don attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. He became an ordained Lutheran minister and officiated churches in Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee. He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Kingsport.

Don loved reading Scripture and writing sermons. He was a part-time lay minister prior to attending seminary school. He had a passion for the Lord, and was always known as a friendly and loving person with a giant smile and a hearty laugh. He loved singing, especially the old hymns. Don was a born-again believer, who is celebrating his arrival in paradise with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Don touched many lives through his years as a pastor and also in his faithful church attendance.

Don suffered a heart attack in 2012, and given the circumstances he had a three percent chance of surviving past 30 days. He lived almost seven years after the heart attack, the last four spent in Holston Manor. But in that time, God used him to impact the lives of several who worked at Holston Manor. They became attached to him and considered him a friend. One Holston Manor worker taught him to play “God Bless America” on the piano (he had no prior piano learning) and Don said he wanted her to be included in his obituary.

Don also loved watching sports, particularly Major League Baseball. He enjoyed watching his sons play baseball through their youth, high school and college careers. He loved teriyaki chicken wings and family gatherings.

Don was preceded in death by his parents.

Those left to cherish his memory include his sons, Donald Calvin Fritz Jr. and wife Laura of Dacula, Georgia, Douglas Dean Fritz and wife Loretta of Johnson City, Nathan Andrew Fritz and wife Camille of Kingsport — along with his brothers, Dr. Theodore A. Fritz and wife Sarah of Newton, Massachusetts, and Gerald Wayne Fritz and wife Betty of Kingsport.

He also leaves 10 grandchildren from Donnie (Jessica, Noah, Logan and Colin), Doug (Farrah and husband Mike Snyder, Hannah and Kamra), Nathan (Brady, Ansley and Connor).

Also, he leaves his wife, Tammy, along with her children and grandchildren.

A service date will be decided at a later time.

You can send an online condolence to the family by visiting www.cartertrent.com. 

Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Fritz family.