Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ewing Wendell Fritts, 90, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Jan. 21, 2021, at Parkview Heights Living Center in Garnett.
Ewing was born at home north of Richter, Kansas, April 29, 1930. He was the last surviving sibling of 10 brothers and sisters born to John Wesley and Nellie Frances (Brown) Fritts.
He was a lifelong Franklin County resident living in Ottawa since the early 1950s.
Ewing attended Oakland School until the 8th grade and earned his GED in 1971. He was employed with the Franklin County Road Department and Ward Manufacturing, Ottawa. He joined the Kansas National Guard in the early 1950s to 1985.
Ewing married C. Joanne Wise in Ottawa April 11, 1952. They were happily married 60 years, having two daughters, Wendy Jo and Lori Lea.
Ewing was known for sitting in his lawn chair and waving at friends, drinking coffee at Daylight Donuts, and all the woodworking projects he completed. He loved supporting and attending the grandchildrens activities, including ball games and dance recitals. During patriotic holidays, Ewing always put American flags along his driveway and sidewalk to show support for the military.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Joanne Nov. 18, 2012; brothers, Clifford, Richard, Edsel, John Junior and Stanley; sisters, Ruby Rice, Gladys McIntire, Anita Belle Chambers and Alma Fritts; sons-in-law, Douglas Wayne Dickinson April 18, 1999, and Alan Dale Gentry June 14, 2020.
Survivors include daughters Wendy Dickinson and her fianc Rick Feuerborn, and Lori Gentry; granddaughter, Amy Dickinson; and grandsons, Ryan Dickinson (Holly), Luke Feuerborn (Jessica), Levi Feuerborn (Jordan), Lancer Feuerborn (Jenn). The light of Ewings life were his great grandkids, Tyden Douglas Dickinson, Wyatt Feuerborn, Dillon Feuerborn, William Feuerborn, Lily Feuerborn, Lainey Feuerborn, Benjamin Gochenour, Aubrey Jones, Kallie Feuerborn, Adelynn Feuerborn, Kamrie Feuerborn, and Karlie Feuerborn, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to acknowledge and extend a huge thank you to Parkview Heights for the loving care and dedication they gave Ewing over the past few years.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, at Hope Anthem Church, 520 E. 13th Street, Ottawa. Ewings family will welcome visitors from 1 - 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 29, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa.
Interment will be at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Post 60 Ottawa American Legion Baseball c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.
On-line condolences can be left for the family at https://www.dengelmortuary.com/obituaries/Ewing-Wendell-FrittsobId=19752332#/obituaryInfo