Clarence Arthur Fry, 88, Of Bel Air

The following information was provided by McComas Funeral Home.

Clarence Arthur Fry of Bel Air, was warmly welcomed into the Kingdom of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at 88 years of age. Throughout his entire life, this humble man was the epitome of extraordinary servanthood and love for God, his country and fellow man.

Born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 15, 1929, to John and Agnes (Love) Fry, Clarence grew to manhood in Williamstown, Pennsylvania. He had one dream: he wanted to learn to fly. Upon high school graduation, he completed college undergraduate courses at Pasadena Junior college in California. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Air Force issued an urgent need for pilots; he qualified and began training at Perring Air Force base in August 1950. He specialized in advanced multi-engine piloting and in September 1951, Clarence was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, USAF.

Clarence flew over 60 combat missions in Korea in the 1952/1953 era as a night fighter pilot and received numerous military recognition awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Upon his discharge from service in 1954, he enrolled at Penn State University.In 1954 Clarence and Eunice C. Long were married in London where she was stationed as an Air Force nurse. She joined her husband at Penn State, where he acquired a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He later received an M.S. in Engineering Management from George Washington University. Clarence moved his family to Bel Air and began his career of flight-test engineering at Martin Company in Baltimore. He then spent 12 years as an application engineer representing manufacturers of electro-hydraulic components to aerospace companies in the mid-Atlantic area.

He worked 20 years at APG as an aviation team leader and later as Division Chief in areas of research in enhancing air crew interface with army flight and air defense systems. Once retired, he served as a professor for seven years in the School of Engineering at Morgan State University.

Clarence is well known for his involvement in many community activities. Among them was serving as an APG Federal Credit Union Board member and Chairman of the Board for several years. He assumed leadership roles in the formative years of both St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bel Air and Advent Lutheran Church in Forest Hill. He was active in the initiation of the local Habitat for Humanity, Susquehanna Chapter and served for a number of years on both the Town of Bel Air Planning Commission and Board of Appeals.

Clarence was predeceased by Eunice, his first wife of 53 years; his only sister, Judy McCarthy and his niece, Dr. Diane McCarthy Cantellops Place. He is survived by his wife, Carol A. Ristau-Fry, sons, David Fry (wife Barb) of Frisco, TX; Thomas Fry (wife Pam) of Churchville, MD; and three grandsons, Joshua Fry (wife Megan) of Apple Valley, MN; John and Joel Fry of Churchville, MD; one granddaughter, Nika Taylor (husband Steve) of Webster, WI and five great grandsons, Joshua, Seth, Cashton, Knox and Crew Taylor.

Memorial contributions may be made to Advent Lutheran Church or The Penn State Fry Family Scholarship in lieu of flowers.Well done thou good and faithful servant…Enter thou into the joy of your Lord!

Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at Advent Lutheran Church, 2230 Rock Spring Road, Forest Hill, MD 21050. There will be a memorial service there at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Image courtesy of McComas Funeral Home.