Dwight Barger Fraley

GRANITE QUARRY - Dwight "Fuz" Barger Fraley, 80, of Granite Quarry, passed away April 14, 2012, at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Born on June 28, 1931, in Faith to the late Samuel Wade Fraley and Faye Barger Fraley, he was a 1949 graduate of Granite Quarry High School and served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War 1951-1956.

Mr. Fraley was a graduate of Class A Storekeeper School in 1951; served aboard the USS LST 1083 and USS Mt. McKinley (AGC-7); served at the U.S. Naval Air Facility-Weeksville, Elizabeth City; and attained the rank of Petty Officer First Class-Storekeeper. Dwight received the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, Japanese Occupation Award and was Honorably Discharged.

Dwight began work for Electric Wholesale Company with three other employees as a bookkeeper in 1956. Upon retirement 41 years later as the General Manager, it had expanded to three locations with more than 40 employees.

He was a member of Wittenberg Lutheran Church, where he served several terms as Vice-Chairman of the church council, as well as on numerous committees, and previously served on the Property and Personnel Committees. Mr. Fraley was a 55-year continuous member of American Legion Post 448 of Granite Quarry, where he served two terms as Commander, six terms as Adjutant, and the past 12 years as Adjutant and Finance Officer.

Dwight was a member of the Rowan County American Legion Baseball Committee for 34 years, where he served as Secretary for 33 years, on the Executive Committee for 30 years, Assistant Treasurer for 10 years and the Treasurer for 11 years. Mr. Fraley was inducted into the NC American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mr. Fraley's many other activities include: Past President and Life Member of Granite Quarry Jaycees, where he received the Distinguished Service award in 1966; member of the Keller Memorial Masonic Lodge for 47 years; member of Rowan Shrine Club-Oasis Temple; member of Amvets Post 845; more than 20 years of service on the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Electrical Advisory Board; past Chairman of the Granite Quarry Elementary School Advisory Council for 16 years; past member of the East Rowan High School Advisory Council for 10 years; Charter Member and Secretary for the Rowan County Industrial and Pollution Control Council.

Mr. Fraley was honored as "Distinguished Citizen of the Year-Granite Quarry" in 1975 by the Granite Quarry Civitan Club; served as Alderman for the town of Granite Quarry; past member of Granite Quarry Volunteer Fire Department; was currently the Co-Chairman of the Granite Quarry High School Garden Committee; was currently a member of the Granite Quarry Parks and Recreation Committee; and was currently a member of the Granite Lake Park Committee.

He is survived by his wife, Edith Peeler Fraley, who he married on Nov. 22, 1953; three children, Cindy F. Miller and husband Rick of Kannapolis, Robert C. Fraley and special friend Lisa Bame of Richfield, Bill Fraley and wife Kim of Granite Quarry; three grandchildren, Stacy E. Smith and fiance Doug Shehan, Candace B. Fraley, Carmen A. Fraley; three great-grandchildren, Easton W. Shehan, Luke T. Smith, Jax C. Smith; two brothers, Junius W. Fraley of Faith and Jerry E. Fraley of Faith; and sister Elizabeth "Libby" Bame of Salisbury.

Services: A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 17, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Powles Funeral Home in Rockwell. The funeral will be held on Wednesday April 18, at 4 p.m. at Wittenberg Lutheran Church in Granite Quarry, conducted by Rev. Thomas Cogan and Rev. David Lohr with burial to follow at Wittenberg Lutheran Church Cemetery, with honors by the Rowan County Veterans Honor Guard.

The family asks that Memorials for Mr. Fraley may be made to Rowan County Legion Baseball, or Wittenberg Lutheran Church.

Powles Funeral Home of Rockwell is assisting the Fraley family.

Salisbury Post, 16 Apr 2012