Obituary for Terry Lee Frye
Terry Lee Frye, 67, passed away December 11, 2019, in Winchester, Virginia. He was born in Winchester June 13, 1952, son of Alfred Hinkle and Dorothy Irene Crosen Frye. He was preceded in death by his parents, his adopted parents Wesley Obed and Frances Preffitt Crisman, and his brother Gary Frye.
The Frye Family lived at 114 W. Monmouth and the Crismans lived at 118. The Crismans could not have children, but Terry’s winning smile melted their heart. The Crismans led him through the difficult times in his life. He was color blind, but it did not affect his love of life. All of his burdens were carried on broad shoulders. He did not meet a person he did not like. He was the life of the party and liked to celebrate Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Apple Blossom, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas (all twelve days), and all birthdays and anniversaries. He had many friends and enough love to share. He loved to tease family members and friends and make them blush and laugh.
He is survived by David Look, his partner of 43 years. He is also survived by his sisters Linda Hepner and Debra (Marvin) Messick, and brother Larry (Teresa)Frye, Sr.; nieces Kelly Rose (Ken) Koontz and Melissa (Mark) Roberts, and nephew J.R. (Jessica Burns) Messick and Larry (Gena) Frye, Jr., and grand nephew Tanner (Nikki) Madigan; grand nieces Kadiance Messick and Kayla Hibbard and grand nephews Colby Hibbard, Collin Roberts, and Carter Roberts; great grand nieces Hadley Madigan and great grand nephews Huxton Madigan, Parker and Lincoln Frye; and step-grand niece Carter Koontz.
When Terry was seven, he had Perthes (a hip degenerative disease) and spent over 3 years in traction at the State Children’s Hospital in Richmond. He had to learn to walk again. Frances and Wes visited him every week. He endured the painful hip all his life until he received an artificial hip two years ago. When he was 18, he was diagnosed with two brain tumors, had two brain operations, and had a plate implanted in his head). He was told he might never be able to walk or talk but he survived. He had many hours of physical therapy. He overcame many health issues as they were presented in life. He loved swimming and was a life guard at the Winchester Municipal Pool.
Terry worked for Band-Type Company in Winchester and quickly rose to Assistant Manager. He helped move Band-Type to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Terry and David met on July 18, 1976, at a large discotheque called the Lost and Found in Southeast DC. After 38 years it became possible for Terry and David to cement their relationship. They were married in DC on January 29, 2014.
Terry moved to Washington, DC, in 1976 where he worked as a teller for Perpetual Savings and Loan and the National Bank of Washington, clerk at the Eastern Produce Market, restaurant manager of Wild Oats Restaurant, clerk of Voorhees’s Optical Company, staff of the Eagle Bar and Grill, and Vice President of the Federal Railway Employees’ Credit Union. He often worked two jobs to afford to live in DC.
In 1995 Frances Crisman sold her house in Winchester and Terry sold his house on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, and together they purchased home in Winchester. In 2004 they moved from Brandon Dr. to Jefferson St. After commuting to DC from Winchester for 10 years to work at the Federal Railway Employees’ CU, he went to work for the Apple FCU in Winchester, from which he went on disability in 2007. Terry and David moved to the Parade Route.
When Terry was 47, Frances adopted him so that he could be buried in the Preffitt family plot. He did a marvelous job of providing care for Frances until her death.
He was a devoted preservationist and worked with his partner David on 11 historic homes in Washington, DC; Alexandria, Virginia; San Francisco, CA; and Winchester, VA. Terry was also a great cook and baker and enjoyed going out to breakfast, lunch or dinner. He was a great dancer in spite of his sore hip. Although he preferred the live theatre especially A Chorus Line and Phantom of the Opera, he seldom went to movies. He always watched the News, The View, and classic old movies on television. He watched every old Western many times. He had hundreds of baseball caps and hats. He was a serious shopper and auction attendee. He always found bargains. He spent a fortune on automobiles and seldom missed an antique car show.
Unfortunately, the “good life” had an adverse effect on his health. High blood pressure and diabetes let to diabetic retinopathy and the loss of his left eye. He also had glaucoma. Both high blood pressure and diabetes eventually led to congestive heart and pulmonary failure.
Terry was a life-long Lutheran and a staunch Democrat. His funeral will be Saturday, December 14, 2019, at 11 am at Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winchester. Pastor David Young will officiate. Visitation will be before the funeral at 10 am and a memorial luncheon to celebrate Terry’s life will be at 12 noon. Burial at Mount Hebron Cemetery will follow.
Pall Bearers are Terry Boyles, Ralph Hensley, Dave Lawrence, Buddy Murphy, George Siekkinen, and Joe Svatos. Arrangements are being made by Jones Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church (2077 N. Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA 22603), Winchester Volunteer Fire & Rescue (3 Braddock St., Winchester, VA 22601), the Briggs Animal Adoption Center (3731 Berryville Pike, Charles Town, WV, 25414), or a charity of your choice.
The Frye Family lived at 114 W. Monmouth and the Crismans lived at 118. The Crismans could not have children, but Terry’s winning smile melted their heart. The Crismans led him through the difficult times in his life. He was color blind, but it did not affect his love of life. All of his burdens were carried on broad shoulders. He did not meet a person he did not like. He was the life of the party and liked to celebrate Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Apple Blossom, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas (all twelve days), and all birthdays and anniversaries. He had many friends and enough love to share. He loved to tease family members and friends and make them blush and laugh.
He is survived by David Look, his partner of 43 years. He is also survived by his sisters Linda Hepner and Debra (Marvin) Messick, and brother Larry (Teresa)Frye, Sr.; nieces Kelly Rose (Ken) Koontz and Melissa (Mark) Roberts, and nephew J.R. (Jessica Burns) Messick and Larry (Gena) Frye, Jr., and grand nephew Tanner (Nikki) Madigan; grand nieces Kadiance Messick and Kayla Hibbard and grand nephews Colby Hibbard, Collin Roberts, and Carter Roberts; great grand nieces Hadley Madigan and great grand nephews Huxton Madigan, Parker and Lincoln Frye; and step-grand niece Carter Koontz.
When Terry was seven, he had Perthes (a hip degenerative disease) and spent over 3 years in traction at the State Children’s Hospital in Richmond. He had to learn to walk again. Frances and Wes visited him every week. He endured the painful hip all his life until he received an artificial hip two years ago. When he was 18, he was diagnosed with two brain tumors, had two brain operations, and had a plate implanted in his head). He was told he might never be able to walk or talk but he survived. He had many hours of physical therapy. He overcame many health issues as they were presented in life. He loved swimming and was a life guard at the Winchester Municipal Pool.
Terry worked for Band-Type Company in Winchester and quickly rose to Assistant Manager. He helped move Band-Type to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Terry and David met on July 18, 1976, at a large discotheque called the Lost and Found in Southeast DC. After 38 years it became possible for Terry and David to cement their relationship. They were married in DC on January 29, 2014.
Terry moved to Washington, DC, in 1976 where he worked as a teller for Perpetual Savings and Loan and the National Bank of Washington, clerk at the Eastern Produce Market, restaurant manager of Wild Oats Restaurant, clerk of Voorhees’s Optical Company, staff of the Eagle Bar and Grill, and Vice President of the Federal Railway Employees’ Credit Union. He often worked two jobs to afford to live in DC.
In 1995 Frances Crisman sold her house in Winchester and Terry sold his house on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, and together they purchased home in Winchester. In 2004 they moved from Brandon Dr. to Jefferson St. After commuting to DC from Winchester for 10 years to work at the Federal Railway Employees’ CU, he went to work for the Apple FCU in Winchester, from which he went on disability in 2007. Terry and David moved to the Parade Route.
When Terry was 47, Frances adopted him so that he could be buried in the Preffitt family plot. He did a marvelous job of providing care for Frances until her death.
He was a devoted preservationist and worked with his partner David on 11 historic homes in Washington, DC; Alexandria, Virginia; San Francisco, CA; and Winchester, VA. Terry was also a great cook and baker and enjoyed going out to breakfast, lunch or dinner. He was a great dancer in spite of his sore hip. Although he preferred the live theatre especially A Chorus Line and Phantom of the Opera, he seldom went to movies. He always watched the News, The View, and classic old movies on television. He watched every old Western many times. He had hundreds of baseball caps and hats. He was a serious shopper and auction attendee. He always found bargains. He spent a fortune on automobiles and seldom missed an antique car show.
Unfortunately, the “good life” had an adverse effect on his health. High blood pressure and diabetes let to diabetic retinopathy and the loss of his left eye. He also had glaucoma. Both high blood pressure and diabetes eventually led to congestive heart and pulmonary failure.
Terry was a life-long Lutheran and a staunch Democrat. His funeral will be Saturday, December 14, 2019, at 11 am at Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winchester. Pastor David Young will officiate. Visitation will be before the funeral at 10 am and a memorial luncheon to celebrate Terry’s life will be at 12 noon. Burial at Mount Hebron Cemetery will follow.
Pall Bearers are Terry Boyles, Ralph Hensley, Dave Lawrence, Buddy Murphy, George Siekkinen, and Joe Svatos. Arrangements are being made by Jones Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church (2077 N. Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA 22603), Winchester Volunteer Fire & Rescue (3 Braddock St., Winchester, VA 22601), the Briggs Animal Adoption Center (3731 Berryville Pike, Charles Town, WV, 25414), or a charity of your choice.