You'll be missed Uncle Fred

Late Thursday night, my "Uncle" Fred passed away from a two year battle with Bladder Cancer. He was an amazing person who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Although, he is not my real uncle, he has known me since the day I was born and I have always referred to him as my Uncle Fred. Fred and his wife Sig lived next door to my mom and dad in their first house. Although we moved out of that house when I was 2 we stayed in touch and got together as often as possible. Fred and Sig had one son, Freddy who passed away the summer before I went to 5th grade, also from cancer. I know we have millions of pictures at my house of them, but these are just a few I had here in South Carolina. My dad and Fred were very close, he was like a father to my dad, whenever he needed something, Fred usually had it, or would find a way to get it. After Freddy passed away Fred and Sig moved tot he River, and built a house that Fred designed.

(Dad and Fred, summer 2005)






(View of the house that Fred built from their pier) It's an amazing house with an amazing view. My family and I got to see Fred when I was home for Christmas, he was very sick and it was very sad. I didn't take any pictures because that is not how I wanted to remember him. Luckily I had a few older ones. The river they live on is connected to the Chesapeake Bay, which is connected to the Atlantic Ocean. Every time I would go visit Fred and Sig after they moved to the river, Fred would take me looking for shark's teeth. We use to walk the banks of the river and fill up little film canisters with shark's teeth. I always thought it was sad that they never had a chance to have grandchildren , because he was so good with kids.



(Dad and Fred Summer 2004 )Fred loved being on the water. Fortunately, he got to go home from the hospital a few weeks ago and have hospice come to the house. He got to lay in his bed at home looking out the huge window in his bedroom and see the beautiful water for his last few days.








(Summer 2005 - me and Uncle Fred) This day I had forgot my sunglasses, and he was concerned about my eyes, so he pulled out an old pair of Aviators! He was the one that went and bought the stork and balloons for my parents yard when my mom had me. I was told he was so excited when he heard I was a girl!! He had had a son, my parents first born was a boy and the other neighbors all only had boys.







Some might call him a Yankee being from Jersey, but if not for his accent you would have thought he was a small town country boy.

It has been a hard day, when my mom called me this morning and she said she had some bad news, I knew it was him. I am so glad he no longer has to suffer. Cancer is such a terrible disease and I think it's hard because his wife had cancer too and she had to lose both her son and husband to the horrible disease. I know he is in a better place, and I will miss him so much.



(The obituarie from Richmond Times-Dispatch)

LANGSCHULTZ, Frederick Paul, of Cobbs Creek, Va., died peacefully at home following a lengthy illness the afternoon of January 31, 2008. Affectionately called "the Mayor" by friends, Fred was born to the late Elizabeth and Frederick Langschultz on September 23, 1933 in North Bergen, N.J. His son, Frederick G. Langschultz; and sister, Elizabeth Appuliese predeceased him. He leaves to mourn his wife, Signe; nephew, Michael Appuliese; niece, Debra Gallagher; four great-nieces, a great-nephew, extended families, and a host of friends. Fred was educated in New Jersey, spent four years in the Navy during the Korean Conflict, following which he attended RCA Technical Institute and attended Virginia Commonwealth University formerly RPI. Fred worked as a sales coordinator for Cardwell Machine Company, and later as Eastern Regional Manager for Food Engineering Corporation of Minneapolis, Minn. A former president of the North Side Lions for many years, he worked diligently to plan the Wild Fowl Art and Carving Show, a primary fundraising event for many years. He served as first chairman for Lion's State Hearing Program. An avid boater and fishing enthusiast, he served as Commodore for the Richmond Yacht Club. He taught Dale Carnegie classes for several years, was a registered Real Estate Broker and had many interests. Fred loved the outdoors and enjoyed working on his property, where he had designed his home, Cedar Ridge. Fred never met a stranger and was always ready to lend a helping hand when needed. A celebration of Fred's life will be held Saturday, February 9, at 11 a.m. in Philippi Christian Church, Deltaville, Va., with a reception to follow at the church. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to McGuire VA Hospice, Richmond, Va., Hospice of VA, Tappahannock, Va. or Philippi Christian Church. Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home and Cremation Service are in charge of the arrangements. Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2/2/2008.