Charles (Fred) Fitzpatrick, 67, of Pinellas Park, Florida, passed away on October 24, 2009, with his wife by his side.
Fred was born on November 16, 1941, in Fairborn, Ohio, the son of Charles P. and Erma May (Henley) Fitzpatrick. He leaves his loving wife, Gail-Anne Fitzpatrick, with whom he shared many happy times with friends and family, all of whom he cherished.
Mr. Fitzpatrick served his country in the United States Navy on the USS Constellation, was a proud Vietnam Veteran and earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and a Navy Unit Commendation. Fred was also especially proud of the fact that he earned his pilot license, and worked as a steel fabricator for many years prior to his retirement. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandson, "My Buddy", Austin Canto.
Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, Rick Fitzpatrick, John Fitzpatrick and Logan Fitzpatrick; his daughter, Crystal Fitzpatrick Goward (and soon-to-be granddaughter), his step-children David Hicks and Dawnielle L. Chaney, all of Florida; two brothers: M. Kevin Fitzpatrick and Jerry B. Fitzpatrick; his sister, Rosemary Gillott, all of Ohio, as well as many other grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother John Fitzpatrick and his sister Katherine Keeton.
Charles will always be remembered by his wife as her first love, her last love and her destiny, and will truly be missed by those who knew him.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 9:15 AM at the Bay Pines National Cemetery , 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida (727) 398-9426.
Gail-Anne and Family,
I am honored that I had the opportunity to meet this absolutely wonderful man! My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. I TRULY DO understand. If there is anything I can do….please let me know.
All My Love,
Barb
Daddy, You were, and are my whole world. I am having a lot of trouble dealing with this.You were looking forward to seeing your grand daughter when she’s born. Now I know you will be right there next to me.Daddy never leave my side I need you, and I can tell my daughter she has an angel always watching over her.You were there for me when no one else was..i always knew i could talk to you about anything. I always think of you and our memories that we had together my father, my best friend,my whole world. You are the definition of a real man.I just wish I could see your smile when my little girl is born.Daddy I promise I will make you proud of me. I love you so much..we will meet again one day
Freddie the loss of you has just devistated us. The only thing that keeps us going is hopes that you are in a better place. You are greatly missed.This is going to be very hard to live with for us. There is much more I can say but you know it all anyway. May God Bless and watch over you.
Love
Elaine and Logan
You were a great man that im proud to have known. I was scared to death when I asked your permission to marry Crystal, you put me at ease with your joking and easy manner. A better father in-law a man could not have asked for. I wish we could have had the opportunity to hunt together, but tlking about our same love of old western movies was equally great. From one sailor to another; Until we meet once more. Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home.
Dad i miss you verry much the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that you are in a better place and you feal no more pain and another thing is thinking of all the great times we had together. Our last fishing trip was one of the best memories i have of you we caught all thos blue fish and just spent time together. That memorie will allways be in my heart. I wish you could be there when baby Fianna is borne but deep in my hear i know you will be. And crystal knows that aswell. Now i got to be a better person because i know you will be looking over my shoulder. Theres nothing more i want then to have you be proud of me so from now on im going to do what u wanted me to do. You are a good man an i hope one day il be just as great of a man as you were! I love you and i will see you again when i enter the thos white pearly gates of heaven
Love you
You’re son Logan.
Dad i miss you verry much the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that you are in a better place and you feal no more pain and another thing is thinking of all the great times we had together. Our last fishing trip was one of the best memories i have of you we caught all thos blue fish and just spent time together. That memorie will allways be in my heart. I wish you could be there when baby Fianna is borne but deep in my hear i know you will be. And crystal knows that aswell. Now i got to be a better person because i know you will be looking over my shoulder. Theres nothing more i want then to have you be proud of me so from now on im going to do what u wanted me to do. You are a good man an i hope one day il be just as great of a man as you were! I love you and i will see you again when i enter the thos white pearly gates of heaven
Love you
You’re son Logan.
My dearest “lovey”,
Even a love like we shared had its ups and downs good days and bad days I know without a doubt there was no one else for me.Iknow how happy my heart was when we were together.I know I will see you again in the future.I smile at all the memories we have shared.I am so proud of us and what we shared.We had something rare and beautiful.I will miss every kiss every hug and in my heart I will save every kiss you ever gave me.There are no words deep enough or fine enough or sweet enough to describe my love for you but there is time enough….eternity will do.I remember falling in love with you…and I remember it like it was yesterday.Memories of those yesterdays are a special part of the love we shared.I will love you for all of my tomorrows.It has been an honor to have been your wife .I know in my heart we wiil be together again one day.You will always be a part of me .Please my love come to my dreams so I can be with you again. You are and always will be my first love my last love my destiny.
ALL MY LOVE : Gail-lee-Anne
My dearest “lovey”,
Even a love like we shared had its ups and downs good days and bad days I know without a doubt there was no one else for me.Iknow how happy my heart was when we were together.I know I will see you again in the future.I smile at all the memories we have shared.I am so proud of us and what we shared.We had something rare and beautiful.I will miss every kiss every hug and in my heart I will save every kiss you ever gave me.There are no words deep enough or fine enough or sweet enough to describe my love for you but there is time enough….eternity will do.I remember falling in love with you…and I remember it like it was yesterday.Memories of those yesterdays are a special part of the love we shared.I will love you for all of my tomorrows.It has been an honor to have been your wife .I know in my heart we wiil be together again one day.You will always be a part of me .Please my love come to my dreams so I can be with you again. You are and always will be my first love my last love my destiny.
ALL MY LOVE : Gail-lee-Anne
My uncle Fred was my very good friend and he taught me so much. I love him and I will miss him very much. I wish I could have spent more time with him. Uncle Fred was a wonderful influence in my life, and he will always be in my heart.
My uncle Fred was my very good friend and he taught me so much. I love him and I will miss him very much. I wish I could have spent more time with him. Uncle Fred was a wonderful influence in my life, and he will always be in my heart.
Gail I just wanted to tell you how proud Freddie would have been of you.
From the heartfelt obituary to the service. Everything was done showing great love, the necklace for Crystal, the pictures of Freddie for the kids,the nice gathering at your lovely home. Everything was done first class and with alot of love and thoughtfulness.
I thank you for letting me be a part of the day. You made a rough day more bearable with a touch of real class.
I hope the memories of Freddie bring you peace and comfort.
Blessings
Elaine
Gail I just wanted to tell you how proud Freddie would have been of you.
From the heartfelt obituary to the service. Everything was done showing great love, the necklace for Crystal, the pictures of Freddie for the kids,the nice gathering at your lovely home. Everything was done first class and with alot of love and thoughtfulness.
I thank you for letting me be a part of the day. You made a rough day more bearable with a touch of real class.
I hope the memories of Freddie bring you peace and comfort.
Blessings
Elaine
We got together and grieved for you today.
We tried to remember you where in a better place.
Some tempers may have flared and things got wild but I know you looked down on us and smiled.
Your family loves you and misses you so…
please help us understand why it was your time to go.
We will see you again when the lord calls us home.
I know you’ll be there with open arms to welcome us home.
Until then your memory will stay…in our hearts till our dieing day.
GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
We got together and grieved for you today….we tried to remember you are in a better place.Some tempers may have flared and things got wild….but i know you looked down on us and smiled.Your family loves you and misses you so…please help us understand why it was your time to go.We will see you again when the lord calls us home…I know you will be there with open arms to welcome us home.Until then the memory of you will stay,in our hearts till our dieing day.GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
We got together and grieved for you today….we tried to remember you are in a better place.Some tempers may have flared and things got wild….but i know you looked down on us and smiled.Your family loves you and misses you so…please help us understand why it was your time to go.We will see you again when the lord calls us home…I know you will be there with open arms to welcome us home.Until then the memory of you will stay,in our hearts till our dieing day.GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
The Lutz Patriots of Lutz, Fla., offer our deepest sympathies in the loss of Mr. Fitzpatrick. His service to our Country will be forever appreciated.
To Gail-Anne,
You are a very precious friend to me & I deeply feel your loss at this time. We havr to believe that God is in control & HE will take those pains away pretty soon. Charles was very lucky to have you-I had seen his happy face when he was with you at the cruise & when he was a patient in our unit. Charles was one of our greatest patient! Our SNU family just loved him & of course you know how you are values at your work & we all love you Gail. Be strong for Charles cause I’m sure that’s how he wanted you to be & also for your family especially little Austin. I am always here if you want to talk to someone ok? God bless you always Gail.
My condolences to every one that had the pleasure of knowing My Uncle Freddie. I did not have the pleasure of getting to know him very well. But as he is my Uncle I still feel saddened from this loss of part of my family. We all cared for him very much and this all came to a shock for us and am deeply saddened we didn’t get the chance to say good bye to him. You really don’t realize what you had until you have lost it… I wish i could of got to know Freddie more and spent more time with him because from what everyone talks of him he was a great man. I am very sorry for this loss. My heart goes out to all the family members and friends that cared and loved him, you will be in my prayers. Bye Freddie…I love you.
Your Nephew,
Shawn
My condolences to every one that had the pleasure of knowing My Uncle Freddie. I did not have the pleasure of getting to know him very well. But as he is my Uncle I still feel saddened from this loss of part of my family. We all cared for him very much and this all came to a shock for us and am deeply saddened we didn’t get the chance to say good bye to him. You really don’t realize what you had until you have lost it… I wish i could of got to know Freddie more and spent more time with him because from what everyone talks of him he was a great man. I am very sorry for this loss. My heart goes out to all the family members and friends that cared and loved him, you will be in my prayers. Bye Freddie…I love you.
Love,
Your Nephew -Shawn
Fred, You will be missed very much. We had a lot of good times together, all of those fishing trips we went on together.I will never forget the dinner cruise You & Elaine Me and Shelia went on We had a very good time. You were a good friend! I will see you again. God bless. Jim