Obituary: Tom D. Fritts Sr.

Dr. Tom D. Fritts Sr. joined his Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven, on Wednesday, August 27.

Dr. Fritts was born in Kingston on November 27, 1926, to Dr. John L and Georgia (Cate) Fritts. He was the former pastor of Deerbrook Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Humble, Texas.

Dr. Fritts is survived by his son, Tom D. Fritts Jr. and wife Glenda of Harriman; grandchildren, Marty Fritts of Lenoir City, Justin Fritts and wife Milicent of Wartburg, Amanda (Fritts) Jones and husband Wendell of Oliver Springs, Rodney L. Sampsel Jr. and wife Susan of Watford City, North Dakota, and Tanya (Sampsel) Williams and husband Roy of Dickson, Tennessee; and great-grandchildren, Zachary Fritts, Kayman Fritts, Silas Fritts, Andrew Sampsel, Fallon Sampsell, and Grace Williams. Special mention of his dear friend and confidant Helen Smith of Humble, who has stood with and supported him since the death of his dear wife.

He was preceded by wife Thelma Raye DeLaney Fritts, daughter Phyllis Diane Fritts Sampsel, and son-in-law Rodney L Sampsel Sr.

Dr. Fritts holds an AB degree from Belmont University in Nashville; BD and M.Div. degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville.

He was an active Rotarian in Humble, Texas, as well as a civic and social leader in numerous organizations throughout the Humble/Houston area. He is a published author of four books “A New Testament Diaconate,” “From The Garden of Thorns to the Table of Grace,” “The Great I Ams of Jesus,” and “Locating God’s ways in the Hebrew Alphabet,” published by Crossbooks Publishing Company.

The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, August 28, at Sharp Funeral Home. Dr. Fritts’ remains were then transported to Humble, Texas, where the family received friends on Saturday, August 30, from 12 to 2 p.m. at Rosewood Funeral Home in Humble, with the service following at 2 p.m. Entombment was in Rosewood Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please purchase one of Dr. Fritts books from Crossbrooks Publishing Company or www.drtomdufffritts.com.

Sharp Funeral Home of Oliver Springs in conjunction with Rosewood Funeral Home of Humble, Texas, is honored to serve the family of Dr. Tom D. Fritts Sr.

An online guest register can be viewed at www.sharpfh.com.