Frederick Marker

Frederick Marker East Wenatchee, WA Frederick Marker, 94, a resident of East Wenatchee, WA for approximately 71 years, passed away on December 3, 2012, after a brief stay at Central Washington Hospital and Highline Care Center in the Wenatchee Valley. Fred's parents, Henry and Anna (Besel) Marker, immigrated with their respective families to the United States from Hussenback, Russia in 1906. They were married on January 18, 1916, and Fred was born shortly thereafter in Laurel, MT on August 20, 1918. Fred moved with his family to Withrow, WA in 1919, and then relocated to Waterville, WA in 1920. He attended Waterville schools through his junior year. The family moved to East Wenatchee in 1936, where they carried on their agricultural tradition by purchasing and operating a fruit orchard. Fred graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1938. In January 1941, Fred enlisted in the Army and, as a result of World War II, was soon transferred to England as a member of the "Mighty" Eighth Army Air Force. By 1943, he had achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant. In his capacity as Acting First Sergeant and Administrative Inspector, he was instrumental to the successful transfer of 250 men to England in October 1943. While stationed in England, Fred met the love of his life, Edith Frost of Ipswich, England. They were married on May 5, 1945, at the Hadleigh Parish Church, England. In July 1945, Fred was transferred to Fort Lewis, WA, where he was honorably discharged from service in September 1945. He settled back in East Wenatchee, where Edith joined him in July 1946, accompanied by their infant daughter, Susan. In 1949, a son, Paul, was born. Three years later in 1952, the family was joined by another son and brother, Barry. Fred worked as an accountant for various local fruit warehouses through 1967. In 1968, as an employee of Cascoa Growers in Cashmere, he was promoted to General Manager, a position that he held until his retirement in 1982. Apart from his "day job," Fred also owned and operated an orchard surrounding the family home on S.E. 8th Street. Eventually, he and Edith built a new home on Mountain View Drive and relocated in 1978. Several years later, they moved to their last residence on Tedford Street, always considering East Wenatchee their home. Fred was elected to and served on the Eastmont School Board in the 1960's. Fred's community service also included participation in organizations, such as the East Wenatchee Rotary Club and board membership in the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives and many other fruit industry organizations. We children would be remiss if we failed to mention that our Dad was an exceptional orchard farmer. If only one word could be used to describe the fruit that resulted from his talents, it would be "beautiful." Indeed, Paul and Barry give great credit to their father for all that he taught them about farming. Today, all three of Fred's children own and farm orchards. Fred so enjoyed the satisfaction inherent to this work, that he helped in these orchards until he was 92 years old. What an honor it was to work beside him, learn from his experience and skills, and enjoy Fred as not only a father figure, but a friend as well. Fred translated his successful approach to farming into an equally successful approach to his family and friends. As children, we never heard him raise his voice, even when we deserved to be reprimanded! As adults, we admired him to the last for his kind and gentle nature and for his endearing way of expressing gratitude to those who cared for and loved him. Fred loved his family beyond measure. Consequently, to us, he was always what his fruit had been to others so many years before: "beautiful." Fred was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Edith, on August 10, 2001; his parents; a sister, Clara Schorzman; his brothers, William, Harold, John and Kenneth; and his son-in-law, Rex Droz. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Droz Rankin and her husband, Robert of East Wenatchee; son, Paul and his wife, Mary of East Wenatchee; son, Barry and his wife, Denise of Malaga, WA; granddaughter, Anissa Marker of Seattle; grandson, Major Joshua Droz and his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay and their children of Goldsboro, NC; granddaughter, Zenia Esparza and her husband, Juan and their children of East Wenatchee; granddaughter, Major Sarah Babbitt of Middletown, RI and her husband, Major William Babbitt of Newport News, VA; and his sister, Evelyn Fisher of East Wenatchee. Very close and special relatives are Jim and Sylvia Hobrough of Suffolk, England, Inez Droz Thorington and Theresa Raber of Wenatchee. His dear friend for 55 years is Cloyd "Dusty" Littrell of Wenatchee. Fred truly loved and will be missed by his little dog, Tricksi. Services for Fred will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 14, 2012, at Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee. In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to American Legion Post 10, P.O. Box 2242, Wenatchee, WA 98807, or Central Washington Hospital Home Care and Hospice, 1020 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Frederick Marker

August 20, 1918 - December 3, 2012