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 It
is with great regret and sorrow that we must notify you of the death of our
Classmate, Bob Frix, on 15 December in Sequim, WA, after a long and courageous
battle with many health problems, principally as a result of a fall in 2005.
Bob is survived by his
wife, Moe; sister, Joanna and her husband, Dr. Andrew Burgess of Texas; daughter
Michele; son Alex and daughter-in-law, Kathryn.
Funeral
services for Bob Frix will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, May 11,
2012 at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers,
donations in Bob's memory may be sent to: Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box
971, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Checks should be made payable to "Disabled
American Veterans Chapter 9." Please note in the memo section that the donation
is in memory of MG Robert S. Frix.
Condolences may be
sent to Maureen 'Moe' Frix, 60 Northridge Lane, Sequim, WA 98382.
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Funeral services with full
military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, May
11, 2012 @ 11:00 am. Meet at the Admin Bldg NLT 10:30 am.
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Moe has blocked some rooms at
the Residence Inn Marriot, 1401 North Adams Street, Arlington, VA 22201 . If
you would like to make reservations, call the hotel -- 703-312-2100 -- and
mention "Frix Bereavement Block." You can also do so online by going to
www.marriot.com/wasca and enter the Group Code FBGFBGA. In case anyone
needs to add extra nights prior or after the dates feel free to contact
Viktoriia West, 703-312-2103.
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Moe would appreciate knowing
ahead of time who intends on attending the service. You can let her know by
sending a message to
maureen.moestar.frix2@gmail.com or calling 360-797-1042 (home) or
509-531-2812 (cell).
In addition, Moe wants
the class to know that she very much appreciates everyone's concern and
kindness! She is also glad that she brought Bob to our 50th Reunion.
Well done, Bob. Be thou at peace.
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\M-2 Bob Frix.pdf
Obituaries:
Major General Robert Scott Frix passed away Thursday, December 15, 2011 at his
home in Sequim, Washington. He was 72. He is survived by his loving wife,
Maureen; his sister, Joanna; his brother-in-law Andrew; his son, Alexander; his
daughter-in-law Kathryn; and his daughter, Michele.
The
son of a farmer, Bob was born in Harlingen, Texas in 1939 and graduated from
Mercedes High School. He graduated in 1961 from The United States Military
Academy at West Point, New York. He received Masters Degrees from Shippensburg
State University, the United States Army War College, and the United States Army
Command & General Staff College.
Bob
served in the United States Army for 34 years as a combat infantryman, Ranger
instructor, master parachutist, and master aviator. He served tours in the
Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and was deployed to many
other nations such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Somalia. His
decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medals for valor, Meritorious
Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.
Bob met
his wife Maureen (Moe) while stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Moe at the
time was a flight attendant for Continental Airlines based out of Seattle. They
married in Sedona, Arizona and celebrated their 34th anniversary this year.
They loved travelling together around the country and the world, and took joy in
their two children.
Their
son Alex was born in 1979 and now serves as a public defender in Olympia,
Washington where inspired by his father’s service, he helped found the state’s
first Veterans Court. Their daughter Michele was born in 1985 and now works at
the non-profit Seattle International Foundation, where she works to alleviate
worldwide poverty, carrying on her father’s devotion to public service for
others.
Bob was
dedicated to several service organizations, including the United Way, the
Columbia Basin College Foundation, and especially the Boy Scouts. Bob became an
Eagle Scout when he was 17 and volunteered as a Scout Leader for the rest of his
life, including as Council President of the Blue Mountain Council in
southeastern Washington. While he was working at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation
in Richland, WA, the Boy Scouts awarded Bob the prestigious Silver Beaver Award
and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
An avid
outdoorsman and mountaineer, Bob loved the Pacific Northwest. Six years ago,
while living in Richland, Bob suffered a fall and later a stroke. He continued
to laugh and share his love from his wheelchair. He and Moe moved to Sequim in
February of 2011, where from his house he admired the mountains he once
climbed. He will forever be remembered for his love, valor, and his devotion to
serving his country, his community, and those he loved. He took great pride in
the success of his family and the achievements of the soldiers he mentored. His
ready smile and sense of humor will be missed.
Memorials can be sent in Bob’s honor to Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 9,
P.O. Box 971, Port Angeles, WA 98362, (360) 417-9444.
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Taps Memorial Article:
Robert S. Frix
1961
Cullum No. 23782-1961 | December
15, 2011 | Died in
Sequim, WA
Cremated. Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, VA
Robert Scott “Bob” Frix was born in
Mercedes, TX on March 31, 1939. The son of Robert and JoAnn Frix, he graduated
from Mercedes High School in 1956 and matriculated to Texas A&M, where he
developed a strong affinity for the military. Bob’s mother was heavily
involved in local politics and was instrumental in securing him an appointment
to West Point. After Beast Barracks he was assigned to Company M-2. He was fun
loving, liked by his companymates, and challenged by the Tactical Department.
Multiple tours walking the area reflected the challenges that Bob threw down,
and the Tactical Department responded. Academically, he might be categorized
as a “goat,” but when the chips were down, he always came through. A friend to
all, he wasn’t spoony and challenged every boundary, yet there was a sense
that Bob was capable and destined for greatness.
After graduation, Infantry Basic, Airborne and Ranger schools, Bob joined the
101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He thrived on leading Infantry
troops, but early on he recognized the potential of Army Aviation and applied
for and was accepted to flight school. In 1965 Bob served with the MACV flight
detachment in Vietnam, and in 1966 he qualified as a rotary-wing aviator. He
returned to Vietnam in 1968 and served with the 1st Cavalry Division as a
battalion S-3 and a brigade aviation officer. In heavy combat, he was awarded
numerous awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and
five other awards for valor. Upon return to CONUS, Bob served as the executive
officer of the Florida Ranger Camp, followed by selection to Command and
General Staff College.
Early selection for promotion and schooling indicated strong career
progression. After Fort Leavenworth, KS, Bob moved to Washington for a staff
assignment with the Infantry branch. Still a bachelor, Major Frix was in high
demand for White House social functions and other similar events with
Washington society.
In 1974 Bob was assigned to Fort Lewis, WA, where he moved seamlessly between
Infantry and Aviation assignments. He served as XO of the 9th Aviation
Battalion, XO of 2-60th Infantry, followed by battalion command of 3-5th
Cavalry and then division G-1. It was during this time that Bob met and fell
in love with Moe. They were married at Fort Lewis.
In 1979 Bob was selected to attend the Army War College. While at Carlisle, in
addition to completing the War College and earning a master’s degree in public
relations at Shippensburg State, his son Alex was born.
After Carlisle Bob was posted to Europe to serve as the inspector general for
the 8th Infantry Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Promoted to colonel, Bob
assumed command of the 12th Aviation Group in Wiesbaden, where daughter
Michelle was born.
Following their tour in Europe, Bob and his family moved to Fort Hood, TX,
where he served as chief of staff of the 1st Cavalry Division. Promoted to
brigadier general, Bob was assigned to Fort Campbell to serve as Assistant
Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division. He was a perfect fit for
this assignment considering his background in Infantry and Aviation units. He
followed this tour with a stint at Fort Rucker, AL, serving as Assistant
Commandant of the Aviation Center and School.
In 1990 he was assigned to Fort MacPherson, GA as Deputy Commanding
General/Chief of Staff of Third U.S. Army and promoted to major general. It
was during this time that Iraq invaded Kuwait and Operation Desert
Shield/Desert Storm was launched. Deployed with Third Army, Bob would call the
Director of the Army Operations Center on a secure line every morning between
2 and 3am, Eastern Time, and give a battlefield update. His knowledge of
warfighting and operations produced a brief but comprehensive report of the
situation in the theater and was briefed every morning to the senior Army
leadership in the Pentagon. Following the end of hostilities, the redeployment
of U.S. assets and the restoration and rebuilding of Kuwait in 1991-92 became
the responsibility of a newly created organization, Task Force Freedom
commanded by Major General Frix. This complex mission was accomplished
flawlessly.
In 1993 Bob became the Deputy Commanding General of 6th U.S. Army at the
Presidio of San Francisco. It is worthy to note that Bob, himself an Eagle
Scout, served as a Scoutmaster and in other scouting leadership positions
throughout his time on active duty. He retired from the Army in 1995.
Following retirement, Bob was employed by Dyncorp International as a senior
executive to lead a recently won contract for nuclear waste disposal at
Hanford, WA. During this time he suffered an untimely accident and fall at his
home, resulting in paralysis and later his death in December 2011. He was
interred at Arlington National Cemetery in May 2012.
Bob was a great soldier, loving husband to Moe, and devoted father to Alex and
Michelle.
— William Tobin, classmate
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