Frederick Terry Obituary

Ipswich - Frederick Leon Terry, 98, of Ipswich, died peacefully at home under Hospice care on Sunday, February 9, 2025, with his three daughters by his side. Born in Lawrence, NY on June 1, 1926, the son of Frederick Terry and Grace (Mason) Terry, the family lived in Far Rockaway NY. Frederick is predeceased by his wife Joan after 60 years of marriage, and a younger brother George Terry.

Fred attended George Junior Republic School in Freeville, NY and upon graduation entered the US Army and served during WWII from September 1944 to June 1946, he was stationed throughout Italy with the 180th Signal Repair Company as a radio repairman.

Joan and Fred were married in 1951 and lived in Far Rockaway, NY. Around 1955 they moved to Minoa, NY, and in 1964 moved to Marblehead MA. In 1999 they moved to Ipswich, MA to enjoy their retirement. Fred worked for the FAA at Logan Airport before retiring at age 55 and then he started his handyman business in Marblehead - helping many an "old lady" with household repairs.

Fred and his wife were active members of St. Stephens United Methodist Church in Marblehead where they sang in the choir, held Trustee positions and helped to guide the Youth Fellowship Program MYF. They were very involved in the fundraising dinners, church fairs and Fred especially enjoyed coordinating the "Men's Table" full of donated tools, mechanical and electrical items. They loved square dancing with the Riverside Squares and began the Harbor Town Teens for Marblehead youths to enjoy with Fred calling the dances. Fred taught himself how to play the 5 string banjo and spent many hours practicing and listening to Pete Seger.

Fred and Joan opened their Marblehead home to others in need of support and friendship by hosting students from Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, along with Boston inner city children and local teens. They also hosted the Men's Choir from Cornwall, England. Once in Ipswich, Joan and Fred joined The First Church, and were very active and supportive of the church community for many years. In retirement Fred also developed friendships through NARFE and Wednesday nights with Friends of Bill.

Fred was known as a go to person if you needed something fixed - he was always willing to lend a hand to fix a can opener, record player, car, door hinge, or bicycle.... He was a collector of items from the Swap Shed in Marblehead, and he picked up items that had any possible future use that he found along the side of the road that others were discarding. He filled his Humphrey Street Barn, and Homestead Road garage, basement, and attic with all his found treasures. As one friend recently wrote about Fred "One thing for sure, if God needs anything repaired, he's got the right man for the job right at his side."

In his later years Fred lived with his daughter and son-in-law in Ipswich enjoying classical music on WCRB and his favorite TV shows; The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, Modern Marvels and Murder She Wrote.

Fred is survived by his daughters, Ellen Terry and her husband John Rios of Salem, Susan and David Warner of Ipswich, and Lisa Sinatra of Salem. He leaves a grandson William Sinatra and his wife Akane of Hilo, Hawaii and their children Wesley and Wren. He also leaves his sister-in-law Betty Lautner, nephew Joseph Lautner, his wife Lauren and their children Wilson, Jed and Rudy, niece Kristin Bradley, her husband Stephen and their children Owen and Olivia.

A Memorial Service will be held early summer, with an internment at the Cowles Veteran Cemetery Ipswich MA.

Memorial Donations may be made in his name to First Church, 1 Meeting House Green, Ipswich MA.

Assisting the Terry family is the Morris Funeral Home of Ipswich. To send a letter of condolence to Fred's family please go to: MorrisFH.com.