Charles Fraker

Charles Gardner Fraker, age 93, of Alma formerly Pompeii, MI; went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at Arbor Grove, Alma, MI, with his family at his side.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Home, Ithaca, MI on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Randy Branden and Pastor Paul Loney officiating.  Burial will take place at Fulton Township Cemetery, Gratiot County, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 30, 2016 from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Charlie, as he was generally called, was born in Pompeii, on May 23, 1923 to NB and Flossie Drusilla (Beattie) Fraker.  On June 5, 1943, Charlie was united in marriage to Iva (Dee) Magdalena Butler, the daughter of Charles Simeon and Lydia Belle (Foerch) Butler.  To this union came five children; Cheryl Lynn (Keith) Whitford, Christine K (Danny) Barnes, Valerie Jo (William) Hunsberger, Kevin Charles (Pamela Ann Schaffer) Fraker and Teresa Ann (Paul) Loney.

Charlie was an avid sports fan, loving his Detroit Tigers. In his younger years he pitched baseball for the Pompeii team in the county league. He would not leave for his home in Florida before the end of deer season and once in Florida it was fishing and golf.

Charlie and Dee lived most of their lives in Pompeii where he ran his farm drainage business. The business is now run by his son Kevin. Charlie would often point to a field with a beautiful crop growing as a field he had drained.  In later years they spent their time between Brevort Lake in the UP and Bonita Spring, Florida. When the traveling days were over they settled in a home west of Alma to be close to family.

Charlie’s faith in Jesus Christ was a big part of his life with his favorite verse being Psalms 118:24. He and Dee were active in their local church wherever they lived.  They have “church family” in all parts of the country. One of the biggest testimonies they have is a family that loves the Lord Jesus.

He is survived by his wife and children plus 19 grandchildren; Troy Whitford, Todd Whitford, Anne (Whitford) & Omar Espinoza, Marc & Angela (Bailey) Whitford, Stephen & Gina (Hegle) Barnes, Lynne (Barnes) & Kent Foster, Melinda (Barnes) & Tim Pigott, Timothy & Deanna (Farmer) Barnes, Angela (Hunsberger) & Tom Patrias, Lisa (Hunsberger) & Michael Jergens, Amy Wenzel, Jonathan & Kristen (Clayes) Hunsberger, Heather (Fraker) & Jamin Reda, Julie (Fraker) & Michael Hunter, Kelly (Fraker) & David Wallace, Luke Fraker, Michael Loney, Rachel (Loney) & Ryan Kulcsar, Rebecca (Loney) & Kyle Gaberson, 48 great grandchildren with one on the way, and one great great granddaughter, Alice May Barnes.  He was preceded in death by his parents, NB and Flossie Fraker, and sister Ada and brother in law Justin Chaffin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Baptist Church of Alma, 270 Purdy Drive, Alma, MI 48801. Online condolences may be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI.