Visitation:
*** Please Note Date of Service***
Saturday, April 25, 2025
9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m.
St. Gaspar del Bufalo Catholic Church
Bellevue, Ohio
Service:
*** Please Note Date of Service***
Saturday, April 25, 2025
10:30 a.m.
St. Gaspar del Bufalo Catholic Church
Bellevue, Ohio
Frederick Nelson Eldred of rural Willard was called to his heavenly home on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Fred was born September 2, 1937 at his home to the late Rose (Swartz) Eldred and Russel Eldred. He was a Willard area resident his entire life, graduating from Willard School in 1955. Fred was hired out on the B & O Railroad (Now CSX) at Willard as a Machinist Apprentice, advancing from Apprentice to Journeyman and then into Supervision as Roundhouse Foreman. After corporate downsizing by CSX at Willard Terminal Roundhouse, he continued working as a Machinist completing 44 years of service.
He married Mary Lu Frederick and they operated a family farm. He was active in promoting Agriculture as a member of the Huron County Farm Bureau serving as Vice President, County Membership Committee and on the Executive Board. Fred was a member of the Huron County Democratic Executive Committee and Democratic Precinct Executive for Norwich Township for many years. He served the people of Norwich Township in Huron County for 28 years as a Township Trustee and was President of the Board. Also, he served as the Huron County Township Association Representative of District 9 Board of the Ohio Public Works Commission and several other committees. His 20 years experience as a licensed real estate sales associate provided him a working knowledge of construction and property valuations.
Fred enjoyed working alongside with Mary Lu on the family farm. Their research on family genealogy yielded many volumes of ancestral descent. He was a member of the former St. Sebastian Church and the current St. Gaspar del Bufalo Church. He enjoyed being a member of PERS and the Willard Historical Society.
Fred was the oldest of two children. He is survived by his sister, Carol Stacklin and daughter, Deborah Fritz and son-in-law, Patrick Fritz. He enjoyed his blessed grandchildren, Jason (Claire) and Evan Fritz, and great grandchildren, Elizabeth and Carter. He also enjoyed the closeness of numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Mary Lu Eldred, sisters-in-law, Ann Herner and Judith Frederick; brother-in-law, August Stacklin and nephew, Mark Frederick.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff and physical therapy help that Fred received at the Willows in Willard for the past 2 and a half years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial masses at St. Gaspar del Bufalo Church would be appreciated. Online condolences can be left for his family by visiting www.secorfuneralhomes.com.
Friends can visit from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. at the St. Gaspar del Bufalo Hall on Saturday, April 25, 2026. A memorial mass will be held immediately following at St. Gaspar del Bufalo Church, 16209 County Road 46, Bellevue, OH 44811 at 10:30 a.m. officiated by Fr. Joseph Joseph. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Catholic Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at St. Gaspar del Bufalo church hall.