Doris L. Fritz, age 100, of Traverse City, peacefully passed away into the arms of her maker, on Sunday, January 1, 2023. Doris was born on September 24, 1922, to William and Marjorie (Timerson) Dingman, in Fremont, Michigan. Doris was the first daughter of four children, Robert, Richard and Julia. She lived in Frankfort with her family, before they moved to Alaska for a few years. The family returned to Traverse City where William farmed. She met the love of her life at a dance, at a grange hall, where Bill played the drums in the band. They married on September 12, 1941. They lived in Maple City, where they lived on the Fritz farm. Bill joined the Navy and, after his return from the war, they moved to Empire. When work was hard to find they moved to Chicago, IL. They moved back to Michigan and settled in Romulus. Doris was a homemaker and worked at various jobs outside the home. At the same time, she took care of her five children, her mother, and later her mother-in-law. She was a Cub Scout/Girl Scout Den Mother. After Bill's retirement, Doris also retired from her employment, and the couple moved to Maple City on Little Traverse Lake, where Doris got to enjoy some of her favorite things, like fishing and hunting for mushrooms. While in retirement, she tried her hand at upholstery and found she was very good at it. She loved to crochet and made afghans for everyone in the family, and many others. She soon took up quilting and everyone couldn't wait for her to make one for them. Bill and Doris also wintered in Alabama. After Bill's death, Doris traveled to other countries and took up golf with her Alabama friends. She was an avid walker and walked two miles daily.
Doris is survived by her children, William (Patricia) Fritz, Dianna Ricky (Jerry) Stricker, and Charles (Sandra) Fritz, Grandchildren Leslee, Renee, Tracey, Demoree (all her Bridgettes), Harold Fritz, Charles A. Fritz, Ronald Fritz, Jerry Stricker 2, Mark Stricker, Adam Stricker, Steven Farmer, Charles E. Fritz, and eight great-grandchildren and eight great great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harold, daughters, Patricia Fritz and Donna Farmer, son Thomas Fritz, two brothers, Robert and Richard Dingman, and sister Julia Hammond.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the attentive staff of Grand Traverse Pavilions for their care and compassion for Doris, and Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home for their tender care of mother. In accordance with Doris' wishes cremation has taken place.
Family and friends are welcome to visit with Doris' family from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023, at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m., with visiting at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Grand Traverse Pavilions, 1000 Pavilions Circle, Traverse City, MI 49684 or the Area Agency on Aging, 1609 Park Dr, Traverse City, MI 49696.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Doris' family at her tribute page at
www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com
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Family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.