Memorial Day 2013

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Last week I drove 700 miles south of Portland, Oregon, to be with my oldest sister, whose husband died.  A portion of the road I traveled on was dedicated to the Armed Forces who have defended the United States of America.

 And I felt so grateful to safely drive along the Pacific Coast of the USA.

 I drove through Crescent City, CA, where my oldest daughter met and married her husband who was serving in the U, S. Coast Guard.

This Memorial Day in the USA I am celebrating the life of my brother-in-law who served in the Armed Forces, and I am keenly appreciating not only his service, but the service of other members of my family and many other families who have or are serving in the Armed Forces so that I can live in freedom here.  Following is some of my brother-in-law's life story.

FRED T. SHULTZ

March 5, 1923 – May 20, 2013

Fred Townsend Shultz was born in Grinnell, Iowa to Veterinarian, J Gordon Shultz and Teacher, Katharine Lucy Townsend Shultz.  When he was in high school he moved west with his family who eventually settled in Sacramento, California.

Fred entered the Army Air Force during WWII serving from 1942 to 1945, reaching the rank of 2^nd Lt.  He was trained to fly and ready to be sent overseas when the war ended.  After leaving the service, he served in the National Guard.  He continued his love of flying and bought a Beechcraft Bonanza to fly to his clients all around the United States. Fred’s main mode of transportation during college, graduate school and a total of 20 years, was his Harley Davidson motorcycle.  He also enjoyed sailing his 20 foot, one man Zephyr sailboat built especially to sail on the bay.  He played the accordion in high school and throughout his life. He was a champion archer in college.  He also enjoyed folk dancing, performing for years with a group from Oakland.

Fred received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford in 1947.  His PhD in genetics was earned in 1952 under the esteemed Professor, I. Michael Lerner at UC Berkeley. Fred started his own consulting firm, Animal Breeding Consultants, in which he worked as a consulting geneticist in the poultry industry. His major employer was Nicholas Turkey Breeding Farms whose central office was in Sonoma, CA.

He also consulted with salmon growers off the coast of Scotland in the Outer Hebrides islands, worked with Monterey Abalone Farms, developing ways to grow abalone on shore in tanks, and consulted with Maple Leaf Duck Farms in Indiana, McFarlane Pheasant Farms in Wisconsin, and poultry growers in England,  Ghana and Australia.  Fred was a quiet man who thoroughly enjoyed his work and was a very highly respected man of integrity. 

Fred met Carolyn Covell, when he worked with a client in Pleasant Hill, Missouri; they married and raised four dearly loved children and have eight dearly loved grandchildren. In the last few years of his life, Fred accepted Christ.  He and Carolyn shared a nightly prayer which both found comforting and strengthening. Hospice by the Bay provided care and guidance for Fred and his family during his last six months. He died peacefully at home with his family and Hospice caregivers surrounding him.

Blessings to you and yours,

Gracie xx