Fredrick Berridge

Fredrick (Fred) Lee Berridge age 78 of Battle Creek, MI passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Fred was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on March 24, 1936 at Nichols Hospital to Charles and Kathryn (Smith) Berridge.  He was a 1954 graduate of Lakeview High School.  He married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia “Marilyn” (Smith) Berridge on June 4, 1954 at Central Christian Church (Battle Creek, MI).  Together they raised four children. He received a degree from Kellogg Community College in Machine Tool & Die.  He served his country in the US Marine Reserves from 1953-1959.  From 1962 to 1979 he was employed at HB Sherman as a tool & die maker.  He retired as a machinist from Post Cereal (Kraft Foods) in 1994. Fred was an avid sports fan and enjoyed coaching his sons in Little League and Connie Mack baseball for 10 years.  He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren’s sports and other school events.   He was also a University of Michigan fan attending the Rose bowl and Blue Bonnet Bowl and regularly attended Western Michigan University football games.  He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader and PTA member at Springfield schools. Fred enjoyed the outdoors hunting, trapping and fishing.  Every year Fred had a large garden that he and his family enjoyed.   He attended a one-room schoolhouse, Martin school, in Battle Creek serving on the reunion committee, which was held in 2014.  Fred and Marilyn together have traveled to 25 foreign countries and visited every state except Rhode Island.  He loved going to his family reunions, traveling to Indiana and Tennessee to the reunions (sometimes bringing his grandchildren with him). Fred loved the Lord and taught his family to love the Lord.  He attended Church of Christ Newtown and Central Christian Church his entire adult life where he was an elder and deacon for 50 years.  He was a bible school teacher, bible school treasure and van driver during that time.  Fred had a passion for the mission field taking five mission trips (4 to the Yucatan and 1 to Operation Christmas Child).  He has been on the Christ Mission to the Yucatan board for 27 years.  For the past 12 years, he attended the Johnson University (Knoxville, Tennessee) Senior Saints in the Smokey Mountains where he was an honorary alumnus.  Fred is survived by his loving bride of over 60 years, Marilyn.  He was a loving father and is survived by his four children; Veronica (Mike) Jones; Gwen (Ed) Joslyn; Fredrick (Joyce) Berridge, Jr. and Timothy (Carol) Berridge.  He was blessed with 10 surviving grandchildren that he loved and cherished; Andrew (Stacie) Jones; Kristeena (Brian) Givens; Stephanie (Conrad) Gonzales; Charles (Angela) Joslyn; Amanda (Danielle Thomas) Berridge; Aundria (Jeff) Meyer; Lisa (Jeff) Paulson; Amy (Kevin) Brandes; Allyson (Jeff) Salmon; Timothy (Kristina) Berridge II.   He was also blessed with 18 great grandchildren (and a great granddaughter and a great grandson expected soon) that he adored. Also surviving are two brothers Ronald (Judi) Berridge, and David (Wayne Cox) Berridge.  He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Kathryn Berridge, and a sister Elaine Kathryn. The family will receive friends and relatives at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday.  Funeral Services will be held at Central Christian Church, 713 Riverside Drive on Saturday, January 31 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions can be made to Christ Mission to the Yucatan or Central Christian Church.

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