Frederick George Wedell

Frederick George Wedell, known as Fred (or Fritz to a select few), departed this earth on November 15, 2022, and his biggest regret was probably that he would not be here to enjoy a gathering with his dear friends and loved ones. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to an engineer, Chet Wedell, and a teacher, Dorothy Wedell (née Calloway), on June 17, 1944, Fred had an unusual childhood. Moving as a child to a farm in Berryville, Virginia, and then later as a teen to Birmingham, Alabama, he graduated from Shades Valley High School. His family, that included his adored older sister, Dewy, would take trips every summer, driving in an RV across the Southwest, collecting rock samples and geodes along the way. These trips would lead to a lifelong love of Southwestern art, of which he has a vast collection including paintings and sculptures, which anyone who has been to his office can attest. Fred attended the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) to earn his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering and later received a master’s degree in business from William & Mary. He also served his country in the Army during the Vietnam War.

Fred married the love of his life, the aptly named Jackie Sparks, on June 19, 1982. Following a stint in banking, Fred found his true calling in the oil and gas business, which led to many lasting relationships across the business community. Known by his friends and family for his irreverent sense of humor and his trademark moustache, Fred was a man of few words, particularly on the phone. But you could always count on a joke or a quote from one of his favorite movies, to include Smokey and the Bandit, Animal House and all of Mel Brooks’s magnificent opus.

Fred is survived by his wife, Jackie Wedell; his children, Christy Wedell Roddy (Paul), Frederick “Rick” Wedell, II (Christine), Natalie Wedell, and Leslie Wedell; his grandchildren, Charlotte and Claire Roddy, and Samantha, Emily and Mackenzie Wedell; his niece Louise Walsky (Jonathan), nephew George Duckwall (Erica) and five grand nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM, followed by a service at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Ridout’s Valley Chapel (1800 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL). Please feel free to leave your fondest memory or favorite joke told by Fred in the comments below.