Frederick Lloyd Hart

Fred was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1932 and grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. About the age of 7 a small grass strip airport was developed just a ¼ mile away from his home. He and his cousin Jimmy spent a lot of time at this airport. Interest in aviation and flying became a lifelong passion, they would do work and wash airplanes for rides. One pilot had a Boeing Stearman bi-plane which was a great adventure for a 10 year old.

At the age of 13 Fred joined the Boy Scouts located in Evansburg. Boy Scouts were a good fit for Fred and he rose quickly through the ranks, becoming the first Eagle Scout of the troop. Fred worked two summers at Camp Delmont, a scout camp. It was a great opportunity for him to get his lifesaving merit badge. He was active as an adult in scouting as a Scout master of the Upper Pottsgrove troop and as an Assistant Leader of the Gilbertsville Explorer Post # 36 throughout the 1960’s and early 1970’s. He shared his knowledge of Skiing and Rocks and Minerals to scouts and to help them earn those Merit Badges. At age 16 Fred joined the Pennsylvania Mineral Society and was a member for many years.

Fred graduated from Royersford high in 1951. He was active in both football and baseball. His batting average was tops on the team. In 1951 Fred was hired as a lineman for Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania. Later on he became an installer and repairman for many years before retiring in 1985.

During the Korean War Fred was drafted into the Army and trained with the 101st airborne in Kentucky. He was then sent to New Jersey and trained as a radio technician. Later he was sent to Arizona to operate a radio direction finder. In February 1955, after discharge from the Signal Corp, Fred married Barbara Alderfer. A son, Kenneth, was born in December. During next five years Fred became a figure skater performing in many shows.

In 1960 Fred took up skiing and became a member of a ski patrol and a skiing instructor. In 1975 he has had the pleasure of skiing in Austria. In 1972 Fred got his pilot’s license and joined a flying club. For two years Fred and his friends flew their airplane all over the east and to Colorado and Wyoming. In 1979, after a divorce, he married Kathleen Hoffman. In 1985 he retired and they moved to Colorado. They had a camper and traveled around the west collecting rocks.

He was well known for his rock and mineral collection showing them off to his friends and family. He also collected fossils from many locations and florescent minerals that could be viewed with an ultraviolet light. After retirement he pursued his creativity with making and selling handcrafted jewelry pieces that were sold to many jewelry outlets. With great demand for his handcrafted jewelry he trained others in his techniques in order to stay retired. He traveled to many sites throughout the West. Traveling abroad to such places as a Scandinavian Cruise to Russia and to Ireland to visit his friend Alwyn Spence. He always made time to return to Pennsylvania to visit his son Ken and granddaughter Becky, as well as nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his wife, Kathleen Hart; parents Orlo Hart and Claudia Dressler Hart; sister, Barbara Hart Batts Lavis; and nephews, Gerald R Batts and Kevin Batts. He is survived by his son, Kenneth Hart; granddaughter, Rebecca Hart; stepdaughters, Sharon Jaramillo and Robin Dunlap; nieces, Pamela (David) Myers and Donna (Tim) Dierolf; and many nieces and nephews.