Fred Thomas Fangio

Services are scheduled for 10:00 AM Saturday, October 5 at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Reverend Justin Wideman, Reverend Ken Cannon, and Reverend Mike Shupp officiating. Burial, with masonic and military rites, will follow in Meadowbrook Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 5-7 PM at the funeral home.

Fred was born April 10, 1940, in Paris, Texas to Alfred Thomas and Kathleen Clyde Griffis Fangio. He attended Paris Schools where he graduated in 1957 from Paris High School. Soon after, he joined the US Marine Corps where he served until 1962, continuing as a reserve until 1964. Upon his return to Paris, he met the love of his life, Alta Sparks. They were married on March 22, 1963, and enjoyed 47 wonderful years until Alta’s death in 2010. During the early years of marriage, he attended East Texas State University where he received a Master’s Degree in Music Education.

Dad always loved music and was blessed with a special talent for singing. He impacted many lives while serving in churches all over Texas as a full time music and youth director. Pointing youth to God was one of his most important missions, and a great number of those “youth” have kept in touch with him over the years. Dad also worked at the family-owned Fangio’s Paint & Body Shop, B & W, and the Post Office, where he was recognized as “The Singing Postman.” After retirement, Dad continued his position of Music Minister in several local churches and led the Old-Fashioned Hymn Singers, a city-wide Baptist senior adult choir. He also visited the hospitals and nursing homes daily to check on friends and church members, where his main goal was to brighten each person’s day and keep them smiling. Dad touched the lives of so many people through his talent, personality, and humor.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; parents-in-law, Jimmie and Yuba Sparks; sisters, Carolyn Fangio and Janyce Draper; and daughter-in-law, Katherine Fangio.

He is survived by a daughter, Lisa Hutto; a son, Duane Fangio, and daughter, Tamera Lovin and husband Phillip; granddaughters, Tiffany Hughes and Brittany Thullen and husband Matthew; grandsons, James Johnson and wife Tonya and Dwight Johnson; along with a multitude of great and great-great grandchildren.

The family requests Gideon Bibles be donated in memory of our Dad.

Casket bearers will be: Timmy Lester, Matthew Thullen, Steve Lynch, James Lee, Seth Spangler, and Gary Roberts. Honorary bearers will be the Brotherhood at First Baptist Church Blossom and Springlake Baptist Church and members of the Masonic Lodge.