Melvin Wilhelm Friedrich

May 23, 1928

May 29, 2014

Melvin Wilhelm Friedrich 86 of Salado, died on May 29, 2014 with family and friends at his side.                               

He was born on May 23, 1928 to Otto and Nina Friedrich on a farm west of Bartlett.  He grew up there, graduating from Bartlett High School. He had one brother, Egon Friedrich, who was 10 years old when Melvin was born.

Melvin and wife Freda were married for 62 years. They had known each other from childhood, since Freda’s cousin and neighbor Wilhelmenia married Melvin’s older brother Egon.  Melvin and Freda were both at Egon and Menia’s wedding when only 11 and 13 years old.  Ten years later, they were married each other.

They lived in the same house on the same farm for all of their years together.  Melvin was a part time farmer, but retired from Ralph Wilson’s of Temple, where he worked for many years.  Before that he worked at Griggs Equipment Mfg. Company of Belton.

Melvin enjoyed reading books about the Napoleonic Wars, Civil War, WWI and WWII.  He was a collector of chess sets and chess books.  He was a member of the Correspondence Chess League of America for many years and chess clubs.  He was very interested in nature, in identifying plants, insects, and animals.  He loved maps of all kinds.  He loved listening to polka bands, although his taste in music was very eclectic and he had albums and CD’s of everything from accordian music to zittars… and from Abba to ZZ-Top!  Almost every genre of music was appreciated and enjoyed.

He was preceeded in death by his wife, Freda, in October of 2011.  

He is survived by his son: David L. Friedrich and wife Ann; a daughter Linda Cawthon and husband Joe., as well as seven grandchildren:  Tina McLeary and husband Kyle of Snook,  Scott Cawthon and wife Miriam of Salado,  Kristin Strickland and husband Thomas of Temple, Wesley Friedrich and wife Lori of Moffat,  Matt Cawthon and Lerina of Copperas Cove,  Kimberly Krenzer and husband Mike of Epping, New Hampshire, and David Wyman of Richwood, Texas. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren and a nephew.

Visitation for Melvin Friedrich will be at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton Texas on Monday June 2, from 6 to 8.  A graveside service will be held at the Salado Cemetery at 10:00 on Tuesday June 3, with New Century Hospice Chaplin Karl Bunjes officiating.  Burial will be at the Salado Cemetery.