Peter Jason Fryer

Peter Jason Fryer, 91, was a member of the GREATEST GENERATION. The patriarch of his family, he was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He passed away on May 18, 2013. PopPete, as his family affectionately called him, was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on November 18, 1921, to Hazel and John Fryer. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1939 where he was a member of back-to-back state championship basketball teams. Peter had just started at Tulsa University when WWII began. He soon joined the Army Air Force and trained as a B17 navigator. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 306th Bomb Group, which was stationed in England flying raids into Europe. On Peter's 5th mission into France, he was shot down and captured by Germans. He spent the next two and half years in the infamous Stalag Luft III prison camp where "The Great Escape" took place. A high school friend who was in General Patton's 3rd Army liberated Peter on April 29, 1945. After returning home, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Burchfield, whom he was married to for 59 years. In 1946, Peter and Mary moved to Oklahoma City to start the family business, Triangle Blue Print & Supply Co. (Triangle A&E) and were blessed with three loving children. They grew their business by working hard, hiring local employees, and by investing in the latest equipment as to make sure they were always the first in town with the latest technology. Peter was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Twin Hills Country Club, and a charter member of Quail Creek Country Club. He was an avid golfer, tennis and card player, having learned how to play bridge and gin during his long days as a POW. Peter loved all sports, especially tennis, and he particularly enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play in their many sporting events. For many years he attended the National Tennis Open in New York City taking a "lucky entourage" with him. For 43 years he wintered in Palm Springs, making lifelong memories with new and old friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, Susan Kruse and Hazel Campion, brother, Walter Fryer, and niece Molly Campion. He is survived by his daughters, Martha Bradshaw and her husband Ron, Margaret Ringwald and her husband Fred, and son, Peter Burchfield Fryer. He was the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren: Jason Bradshaw and his wife Maura, Libby Bradshaw Nelson and her husband Bobby, Jeff Ringwald and his wife Sarah, Lisa Ringwald Kloberdanz and her husband Paul, Mary Lynn Fryer, Peter Fryer, and Janell Fryer. He was also blessed with ten great grandchildren: Claire, Blythe, Charlotte, Robert, Katherine, Jacob, Paul, John Luke, Peter and Maggie; nephews Alvin and Walter Kruse, John Campion, and niece Elizabeth Vaughn. We are especially thankful for the care and devotion of caregivers, Lori and Trisha, whose compassion and love sustained us during his last days. Our family would like to thank Dr. James Reeves, friend and doctor, and his nurse, our "angel", Jeannie. His family will lovingly carry on his legacy. He fought the good fight, he went the distance, and never lost his love of life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, 601 N.E. 6th St., OKC, OK 73104. A Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday May 21, 2013, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.