Frederick Anton Spies Obituary

Frederick Anton "Fritz" Spies died on Thursday October 4 2007 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. The son of Anton Spies and Adista Van Slyke Fritz was born in Yonkers New York on November 15 1912. He was raised in Johnson City New York where he played football for Johnson City High School. He briefly attended Buffalo State Teachers College and began a 40 year career as a quality control engineer with IBM. On August 21 1936 he married Irene Caroline Wolos and they settled in Binghamton New York. When Fritz retired from IBM he and Irene moved to the Daytona area in 1961 where they founded Spies Chemical Company which they ran together until 1982. Fritz was a member of the Elks and Moose clubs the Quarterback Club and Oceanside Country Club. He was an active member of the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and was recognized for his business experience. He and his wife were active in the National Swimming Pool Institute for nearly 30 years. In addition to its prominent role in building the White House swimming pool the NSPI actively promoted pool safety conducted pool and pool equipment standards development and sponsored the major pool industry marketing expositions. Fritz served as secretary vice president and president of the Central Florida Chapter of the NSPI and served as the National Director of the NSPI in 1975. He was also an elected member of the Associated Swimming Pool Industries of South Florida. Fritz received many awards for his contributions to the swimming pool industry. Fishing golfing and boating were some of his many passions. He and Irene also enjoyed traveling the United States in their RV. Fritz Spies was predeceased by his sisters Margaret Sloan of Johnson City New York and Barbara Morrison and Anna Fraser of Fort Worth Texas. His survivors include his wife of 64 years Irene; his daughter Ellen Henry; his daughter Barbara Spies Jensen her husband George Jensen and children Suzanne Jensen Hansen Chris Hansen and Erik Jensen; his daughter Nancy Spies Miles her husband Dr. Steven Miles and their children Sarah Jason Monica and Nathan Miles. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond. A small family service was performed at his bedside. The family requests donations be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler in lieu of flowers. (http://www.halifaxhealth.org/hovf/donations.html)