James R. Fricke

Dr. James R. Fricke, Jr. of Austin departed from this life on Thursday evening at his vacation home in Aransas Pass, Texas. He was born in 1940 in Fort Worth, Texas to James R. Fricke, Sr. and Evelyn Goodman Fricke, who preceded him in death. Jim attended grade school and high school in north Ft. Worth and was a graduate of Texas Christian University and Baylor College of Dentistry. He completed his oral surgery residency at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. In 1969, he moved to Austin with his wife, Dr. Carolyn Crighton, and started a private practice. In 1971, he and Dr. Sam B. Fason together founded Austin Oral Surgery, where he was employed until his death. He is survived by his daughters, Pamela Anne of Austin, Karen Elaine and husband, Brian Nalle, of Austin, and by his son Benjamin T. Fricke and wife, Amy Diamond, of Frisco. He was the proud grandfather of three beautiful grandchildren, Luke Jameson Fricke, Garrett James Nalle, and Caroline Grace Nalle. He is also survived by his aunt, Thelma Whitehurst, cousins, Linda Strickland and Rick Whitehurst, and uncle, Robert Fricke and aunt, Anne, all of Ft. Worth. Jim will be fondly remembered by the many patients he helped throughout the years in his practice. He had a true passion for his work and thoroughly enjoyed helping others. He was particularly proud of his satellite practice in LaGrange. Jim will also be remembered as an accomplished fisherman having fished on the Texas Gulf Coast for over 30 years. He enjoyed fishing trips with family and friends and looked forward to introducing his grandchildren to fishing. Dr. Fricke was a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; American Dental Society of Anesthesiology; American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Baylor Oral and Maxillofacial Alumni Association; National Dental Board of Anesthesiology; Texas Dental Association; American Dental Association; Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; and the Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Honorary pallbearers will be Austin Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Dr. Sam Fason, Dr. Barry Cunningham, Dr. Fred Voorhees, Dr. Gregory Burroughs, Dr. Lynn White, Dr. Brad Theriot, Dr. Thomas Weil, Dr. Andrea Quaroni, Dr. George Grant, and Dr. Clay Fuselier. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, 1206 W. 38th St., Suite 4101, Austin, Texas 78705 or The Rise School of Austin, 4220 Monterey Oaks Blvd., Austin, Texas 78749. Jim was a sincere and honest man with a genuine love for life, family, and his many friends. He will be sorely missed. A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, April 11 at 10:30 am at Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 3125 North Lamar. A reception will follow the service. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com