Robert Frith, SMSGT, USAF Retired

Robert William “Bob” Frith, SMSGT, USAF Retired

August 19, 1936 ~ November 11, 2021

Robert William Frith passed away peacefully on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home, where he had been living for just over a year. He was 85. He was born in Hubbard, Oregon on August 19, 1936, the second of five children born to William and Anna Seufert Frith. He grew up on his parents’ dairy farm in St. Paul, Oregon. He attended Catholic school through eighth grade and graduated from St. Paul High School.

Upon high school graduation in 1954, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served his country for 29 years, retiring in 1983. Early in his career, while stationed in Florida, Bob worked in air and sea rescue, training men from all over the world. He was stationed at many bases where he worked as crew chief for B-52 bombers through the entire 11 years of the Vietnam War. Late in his career he was proud to be part of the Minuteman Missile Project.

Bob continued his service as a civilian employee at Hill Air Force Base, Clearfield, Utah for an additional 10 years. He was proud of his service to his country and the experiences his life in the Air Force gave him.

While based in Blytheville, Arkansas in the early 1970’s, he met and married Jane Wooldridge Blaylock. The union of Bob and Jane on February 25, 1974 in Chicago commenced his role as father to Jane’s two daughters, Cathey and Barbara. He and Jane enjoyed their time, travels, and many friends in the Air Force, but were happy to retire in Utah to be near their grandchildren.

In retirement Bob and Jane continued to enjoy camping, travelling to visit family and friends, and spoiling the grandchildren. Bob enjoyed rodeo and following his favorite basketball and football teams. He loved cookouts and making his yard beautiful. No one was a stranger to him. He loved swapping stories with his buddies and was not above embellishing his stories to “make them more interesting.”

In his later years Bob enjoyed spending time at the Layton City Vietnam Memorial Wall. When he moved to the Veterans home, he was fascinated by the birds that came to the feeder outside his window. He enjoyed relaxing on the patio and visiting with fellow veterans.

Bob’s sweetheart Jane passed away in 2012. He is survived by his daughters and their families, Cathey and Rusty Simpson of Little Rock, Arkansas; Barbara and Bill Fennell of San Diego, California; grandchildren, Nicole Lindley, Amber Michelle Lindley, Christa Jean Lindley and her husband Brock Taylor, all of Utah; Patrick Liam Fennell, Los Angeles, California; Dana Sinead Fennell of Denver, Colorado; great-granddaughters, Quincy Michelle and twins London Jane and Hadley Kay, all of Utah. He also leaves his siblings, Betty Pavlicek, Lolly and Scott Peavey, Tom and Jan Frith, all of Oregon; Ted and Norma Frith, Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 26, 2021 at 3 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1100 East 5550 South, South Ogden, Utah, with Father Charles Cummins officiating. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 2 to 2:45 p.m. at the church. Military honors provided by the VFW, to be held in the parking lot of the church immediately following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home, c/o Jacqueline Peterson, VA State Representative.

The family is grateful to all the employees at Wahlen who cared for Bob this past year:  housekeeping, nutrition, therapists and social workers, nurses, CNAs and physicians. You are all vital and greatly appreciated.

Services will be live-streamed and available by scrolling to the bottom of Robert’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com, where condolences may also be shared.

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