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Donald Earl Fry ’37

Donald Earl Fry ’37, October 19, 2006, in Salem, Oregon. Donald attended Reed for two years before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1938. He met Thelma Krause at the university; they married in 1939, and both served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Donald worked for the Social Security Administration for 30 years, retiring in 1970, and was president or chairman of many civic and cultural associations. Don and Thelma enjoyed extensive travel adventures. During retirement, they traveled around the world, and studied in Elderhostel trips in Europe, China, and the Pacific Northwest. To develop their knowledge of aquatic life on the reefs of the U.S. and the Virgin Islands, they annually charted a yacht and joined the work of research vessels. Donald often recalled the “glorious experience” of choral singing at Reed under the direction of Edouard Hurlimann, director of the Reed choir and concertmaster for the Portland Symphony. From this came his avocation; he joined choirs in Washington, California, and Oregon, and sang Handel’s Messiah for over 50 years. He also developed the hobby of hand spinning and vegetable dyeing, and did demonstrations at the Oregon State Fair. Survivors include a son, daughter, grandson, five great-grandchildren, and three brothers. His wife died in 2001.

Appeared in Reed magazine: May 2007