James S. Fritz
1932-2025
On November 30, James “Jim” Stanley Fritz moved on to eternal life with Jesus, his Savior.
Jim was born on August 11, 1932, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the second of five sons and one daughter, born to Louis and Beatrice Fritz.
Jim’s life of service began with enlistment in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve at the age of 17. Jim subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and volunteered for Korea. He saw combat on the front lines during the final days of the Korean Conflict.
While serving in the Marines, Jim met and married Elizabeth “Bettie” McMahon who was a civilian in the Marines. They had three sons, later divorced, but always remained close.
After his service in the Marines, Jim worked 18 months in northern Alaska to help maintain the Defense Early Warning (DEW) Line. Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics from New Mexico State University and later an MSA from George Washington University. His early career took him to White Sands Missile Range. His growing family moved to the Washington, D.C. area. There his work included network engineering and he co-authored a book on the topic. Later, he managed teams on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radio navigation contracts. While residing in Maryland, he and a trusted partner founded an accounting firm that served a variety of businesses and individuals. Jim and a software programming partner wrote the first electronic filing software to be accepted by the IRS from the state of Maryland. Prior to that, they wrote and sold software for computer processing of tax returns. Jim earned the certification of Certified Financial Planner.
Upon semi-retirement in 2002, Jim moved full-time to Great Cacapon, West Virginia, where his son Tim built a beautiful home with views of the hills and mountains. He created a bountiful garden and loved resting by his pond and welcoming many visitors.
Before and after retirement, Jim was active in pro-life activities. He counseled mothers in front of abortion clinics in Maryland, in all seasons, in all weather. His organization had over 550 saves and some of the mothers returned to greet him and proudly show their babies. He also organized numerous pro-life meetings, dinners, parade floats and booths in Morgan County, W.Va. He often said that his best day was the day he had two saves.
In the early 2000s, Jim and a close friend established Catholic radio stations in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. and Hancock Md. These stations thrive today under the care of their successors.
Jim had a strong Catholic faith and was a devoted parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., where he was a member of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus.
Jim is survived by his two sons, Timothy and Stephen (Noella), eleven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his ex-wife, Bettie, and his son Michael.
He survived all four of his brothers and his sister.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 67 Liberty Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Burial with grave site military honors will be held at a later date at the Maryland State Veterans Cemetery in Rocky Gap, Maryland.
A reception for family and friends will be held immediately following the Mass at The American Legion Post 60, 527 N. Washington Street, Berkeley Springs.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church building fund, P.O. Box 634, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411, West Virginians for Life, P.O. Box 25, Canyon Rd, Morgantown WV 26508, or Defender and Splendor of the Truth Radio Stations, P.O. Box 367, Hancock MD 21750.
Online condolences may be expressed at helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
