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Theodore J. Fritz III, 79, longtime resident of Guilford, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 24 at his home.

He was the devoted husband of Ellen Stokes Fritz for 57 years. Ted was born in Wallingford in 1942, son of the late Theodore J. Fritz, Jr., and Sophie Yakobovitch Fritz.

Ted was a very hard-working man and a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle. He had a very dry sense of humor that only his very special friends could appreciate. He worked for Wood Steel and Glass in Madison for 35 years before his retirement in 2007.

Ted’s happiest times were when he was on the waters of the East Coast on the Atlantic Ocean, first with his grandfather Theodore Fritz and his dad in Niantic where he learned to fish, clam, and boat.

He passed these teachings down to the littlest boy, Jayce, 4, of Wisconsin. What fun times we all had in Mystic, Cape Cod, Nantucket, South Carolina, Outer Banks, and of course Long Island Sound—aweet memories the kids will always have to reflect on.

He was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps, a lifetime member of the Wallingford Rod and Gun Club, and in his younger days a volunteer fireman at the Washington Engine Fire Department.

Besides Ellen, his wife, he is survived by his daughter Veronica Fritz (Stephen Getchell) of Waterford and his three grandchildren, Ashleigh Fritz, Navy Corpsman of Guilford; Sophie Bishop of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; and Theodore Bishop of Saco, Maine. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Brianna Seixas of Guilford and Adeline and Jayce Firari of Beaver Dam; nephew Stephen Stokes of Rhode Island; and his California family, brother Kenneth Fritz (Jackie), nephew Tyson Fritz (Catherine), and niece Michelle Fritz (Jeff), also two grand nephews, Gage and Lincoln Fritz. Ted is also survived by his faithful dog, Gunner. Ted was predeceased by his brother-in-law John P. Stokes of Waterbury.

Friends are invited to a Memorial Service with Military Honors to be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Wallingford Rod and Gun Club, Wallingford. Arrangements are in the care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.