I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7
VIDALIA – Fred Falkenheiner Jr., a lifelong resident of Vidalia, went to be with his Lord after a lengthy battle with cancer. He lost this battle on Sept. 23, 2008 at Natchez Community Hospital.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Vidalia United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be from noon until service time today at the church.
Mr. Falkenheiner was born July 12, 1938, in Natchez, the son of Fred Falkenheiner Sr. and Geneva Rountree Falkenheiner.
Fred graduated from Vidalia High School in 1956 and then graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He was a member of the Tiger baseball team of 1958-1959 and a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon while attending Louisiana State University. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard. After graduating from Louisiana State University, he began work at Unifed Savings and Loan. He worked for 10 years at Armstrong Tire and Rubber. He completed his career with Louisiana Central Bank, now Delta Bank as vice president.
Fred served his community to the fullest capacity. He was a member of Concordia Parish Police Jury for 30 years, serving as president for 12 of those years. He was also a member of Vidalia Lions Club and Vidalia Kiwanis Club. He also volunteered for the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes. He was a member of the Vidalia United Methodist Church and attended Jefferson Street United Methodist Church with his family.
Over the years, Fred has been honored with many awards and achievements. These include The Unsung Hero by The Natchez Democrat in 1999, The Citizen of the Year, also by The Natchez Democrat in 2000, and the Vidalian of the Year in 2005. He also was instrumental in Vidalia Dixie Youth Baseball for 25 years.
He loved his family, watching and attending Louisiana State University baseball games and golf at Belwood Country Club. He was blessed with many wonderful friends that he cherished throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Phyllis Grant Falkenheiner; three children and their spouses and five grandchildren, Philip Falkenheiner and wife, Lori, both of Vail, Ariz., Lee Falkenheiner and wife, Lisa, Grant, Madalyn and Sarah Saxon Falkenheiner, Kemp and Ellyn Falkenheiner Hairston, Fred Dow and Jake Hairston, all of Natchez; one brother-in-law, Dr. Joseph Burnett and wife, Martha Grant Burnett, both of Oxford, and their four children, Elizabeth Burnett, the Rev. Margaret Burnett, W.J. Burnett Jr. and Kathryn Elliott.
Pallbearers will be Hugh McDonald, Cliff Merritt, Irvin Anderson, Leo Landry, Bernard Wood, Chick Graning and Richard Harriss.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bill McDonough, Tommy West, Charles Byrne, Jim Altick, Jim Bragg, Jack Milligan, Charles Feltus, Joe Schiele, Dr. Joe Burnett, Dr. Patrick Duffy, Lee Jones, Dr. Russ Fairbanks, Benny Milligan, Alvy Earl Dausey and Percy Rountree.
A reception for friends and family will be at the home of Fred and Phyllis Falkenheiner.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Trinity Episcopal Day School, Vidalia United Methodist Church or Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.