Obituary of Freddie Ketchum

Freddie Ketchum Jr., passed away peacefully just after noon on July 28, 2016. He was surrounded by his son, Douglas Ketchum and members of hospice. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Margaret Ketchum, in July of 2003. Both Fred and Margaret were indeed members of the +óGé¼+ôGreatest Generation+óGé¼-¥. After Pearl Harbor in 1941 he lied about his age in order to join the US Army at the age of seventeen. He was one of the few men to have traveled both to and from England on the Queen Mary after it was converted to a troop ship. Dad was in the latter waves of the D-Day invasion, and fought his way across Europe and served in the Battle of the Bulge. After leaving the US Army, he joined the US Air Force and retired with honor in 1967. He held a Bachelors degree and two Masters degrees; one in science and one in math. He became the first person in the US Air Force to receive a direct appointment from a non commissioned officer to a commissioned officer in peace time as the result of his education and the projects he worked on. After retiring from the US Air Force he became a registered engineer and also ran a successful business for almost 40 years. In the last few years dad’s health declined, but he remained a true gentleman until the end. He looked forward to being reunited with his loving wife Margaret. I believe they are together again. Special thanks to hospice and particularly to Christine Chaffin, CNA whose genuine kindness and dedication to my father made his final months happy. She also coached myself through this trying time.