Gary Robert Frye

Gary Robert Frye, a longtime area resident and member of Traverse City Central High School's 1949 graduating class, passed away Sunday morning, February 10, 2013, at Munson Medical Center at age 82. Gary, son of the late H. Clarence and Fern (Wilson) Frye, served in U.S. Army Intelligence after the Korean War. He then returned to the University of Michigan where he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.
Gary's career included 17 years with Ford Motor Company in the Detroit area where he was notably the youngest person to advance to manager of industrial engineering in Ford's history. In 1973, Gary joined International Harvester, later known as Navistar, at its Chicago world headquarters as a director in its trucking division. From 1976 to 1979, Gary lived in the Netherlands and Great Britain while he managed operations at International Harvester affiliates in those countries and South Africa. In 1986, Gary left Navistar to begin an operations consulting career. Gary eventually retired in 1992 and returned to the Grand Traverse area.
Gary also enjoyed an extensive career in volunteer work that included the Parent Teacher Organization and Newcomers Club in Livonia, Michigan; WGN food drives in Chicago; and Habitat for Humanity and Yellow Ribbon organizing efforts in Traverse City.
Gary is survived by Caroll Sharrer Frye, his wife of 59 years; sons Pieter G. Frye of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and Eric C. Frye of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter-in-laws Kathy Hanagan Frye and Sibley Smith Frye; grandson Michael Frye and granddaughters Allison and Elizabeth Frye. Gary is also preceded in death by his sister Marion Joyce Johnson and her husband Harold Cummings Johnson, both graduates of Traverse City Central High School, 1950 and 1951, respectively.
A memorial service in Traverse City will be held this spring at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Grand Traverse Industries.