Charles Orrin Fredericks

Charles Orrin Fredericks was born May 4, 1929 in Portland, Oregon and died peacefully September 4, 2020 in Seattle, Washington following a stroke. His devoted daughters Ann Torkelson of Aloha, Oregon and Jenny Fredericks of Seattle, Washington were able to surround him with love in his final days.

Charles was raised on a farm in Wishkah, Washington and delighted, and often surprised, his family with tales of his boyhood adventures. He was particularly intrigued by the growth of aviation in WWII -witnessing flights overhead and occasional landings in the fields around his home. Always the hard worker, he was the Valedictorian of his Wishkah Valley High School class of 1947 where he played the trumpet, participated in the drama club, and lettered in basketball. To earn money for college, he worked at the local pulp mill, delivered meat to homes and rented horses to tourists on Pacific Beach.

He attended Grays Harbor Community College and transferred to University of Washington where he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1952. While at UW he attended the Ambassadors Group at University Presbyterian Church, where he met and fell head-over-heals in love with Janet Hanna. He and Janet were married April 14, 1962 and enjoyed swimming, skiing, tennis, hiking, and raising their two daughters.

Charles landed his dream job at Boeing and enjoyed an exciting 40-year career. His family got used to him describing the details of his day as, “company proprietary business.” Years later they learned his participation in Boeing’s “Advanced Projects” included work on the Bomarc and Minuteman Missiles, the Pegasus-class Hydrofoils, the B-1B Lancer and the Saturn-Apollo missions where he was involved in the design of the navigation system on the Lunar Rover. While it is a thrill for his family to tour the museums that house his work, Charles was always humble about his numerous contributions.

In his spare time, Charles enjoyed building, flying, crashing and repairing model airplanes! He was a member of the Sky Valley Whirlwinds square and round dancing clubs, and regularly volunteered at his churches. He was the treasurer and the grounds keeper for Bethel Presbyterian Church for several years and was the “music man” arranging worship for the senior’s bible study at Gold Creek Community Church. Always the adventurer, he was a member of the Mountaineers. The family enjoyed spending time together at Miller Bay on the Olympic Peninsula and their retreat at Gold Bar Nature Trails.

Charles’ pride and joy was his family. His daughter Ann remembers dancing and harmonizing together, while Jenny says he never missed one of her games - all the way through college. Every night, he would sing and play the harmonica before he tucked them in.

He and Jan traveled the world and enjoyed 46 years together until her death in 2008 due to dementia. Charles remained a loving, devoted husband during her difficult 7-year decline. After her death, he kept her spirit alive, signing her name with his in sentimental Hallmark cards filled with inscriptions that spoke from his soul.

While his deep faith grounded him, Charles followed his heart and was always open to welcoming people into his life. “Pa Fred” is remembered for his kind, gentle spirit and his great sense of humor among his daughters’ friends. He eagerly attended sporting events, birthday parties, holiday dinners and neighborhood gatherings, and would fill the room with his warmth and engaging personality.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary Fredericks, his sister Betty Scheuer, his brothers Frank and Albert Fredericks.

He is survived by his daughter Ann and son-in-law Edmund Torkelson of Aloha Oregon his daughter Jenny Fredericks and daughter-in-law Jean McCarthy of Seattle Washington, and his grandchildren Abigail Torkelson of Corvallis Oregon, Jonathan Torkelson of Aloha Oregon, and Zachary McCarthy-Fredericks and Logan McCarthy-Fredericks of Seattle Washington.

The family wishes to thank the community and caregivers at Ida Culver, Broadview for their love and support.

There will be a private burial service on Friday, September 11, 2020 at Floral Hills in Bothell WA.