Sebert Clayton Fridley

Sebert Clayton Fridley, age 92, died January 16, 2019 in Hamilton, Ohio. He was born March 3, 1926 in Potts Creek, Alleghany County, Virginia, the first son of the late James and Elma Bess Fridley.

Sebert graduated from Boiling Springs School, Jordan Mines, Virginia. After graduation he worked at the Industrial Rayon Corporation in Covington, Virginia. His next job was cutting and selling pulp wood with his father until he enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and was assigned as an instructor of light artillery and served as gun crewman with the 394th Field Artillery Battalion in the European Theater. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant until his honorable discharge in June of 1946.

After the Army, Sebert returned to the work of cutting and selling pulp wood in the Virginia mountains, then moved to Barberton, Ohio to find work in Akron, Ohio, along with childhood friend, Ray Jamison and his wife, Lyona, from Roanoke, Virginia. He returned to the Covington, Virginia area and in 1948 married the love of his life, Nell Bowers. In 1952, Sebert gained employment at the Fisher Body Plant in Fairfield, Ohio where he worked for 35 years, learning the trade of Machinist through coursework at the International Correspondence Schools.

Sebert enjoyed many hobbies during his life, including golfing, archery, woodworking, model airplanes, hunting, and ice skating. After his retirement he enjoyed amateur photography (winning several best in show photos through The Oxford Press,) and settled to his favorite hobby of fishing in lakes from Ohio to Virginia to Michigan and Ontario, Canada. In recent years, he enjoyed playing harmonica, taking walks and enjoying nature.

For more than 50 years he was a member of Faith Church, Hamilton, Ohio, serving on consistory, donating his Saturdays to cleaning the church, and helping set up for special events.

Sebert was a man of quiet conviction, and kind to all. He was a dedicated, loving and caring husband and father, and especially enjoyed quiet time spent with his grandchildren fishing, sledding, and either making toys with them or showing them practical skills.

In addition to his parents, Sebert was preceded in death by his beloved wife Nell (Bowers) Fridley, sisters Frances Bowers and Lorean Tucker, brother Olanta Fridley, from Covington, Virginia, and half-sister Gladys Bostic, West Virginia, brothers-in-law Melvin Bowers, John Bowers, and Dale Bowers, all of Liberty, Indiana.

Sebert is survived by four children: Glen (Robin) Fridley, Fairfield, Ohio; Lois (Randall) Watson, Oxford, Ohio; James (Rhonda) Fridley, Oxford, Ohio; and Sharon Henrichsen, Hamilton, Ohio, as well as twelve grandchildren: Andrew (Amanda) Watson, Robb (Kristin) Watson, Joel Berg, Melissa (Robert) Lineback, Timothy Watson, Phillip Fridley, David Fridley, Katelyn Fridley, Christopher (Amanda) Fridley; Dana (Kristina) Henrichsen, Austin Fridley, Leah (Nate) Jarrett, seven great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by one brother, Marvin Fridley, Covington, Virginia, and sister Loralee Wood, also of Covington, Virginia, sisters-in-law Dianne Fridley, Covington, Virginia, Linda Taylor, Liberty, Indian, and brothers-in-law Robert Bowers, Liberty, Indiana, and Roy Bowers, Liberty, Indiana, and a many loved nieces and nephews.

Sebert’s family extends a very special thanks to Laurie Lee for her excellent care of Sebert and his family during the past two years. Thanks also to the Colonial at Home staff, The Woodlands at Hamilton Staff during the past week and Dr. Chetna Mital and her staff for the professional care and guidance provided for many years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Funeral service will be held at Brown-Dawson-Flick Funeral Home 1350 Millville Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio on Tuesday, January 22 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Stephen Hamilton officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Tuesday. Burial will be in Millville Cemetery. www.browndawsonflick.com