Fred Singleton

Jr.Fred H. Singleton Jr. died on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, at age 81, at home surrounded by his family, nurses, and caretakers.Fred was born in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 27, 1930 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred Homer Singleton Sr.He was the oldest of two children. His sister, Alma Ernestine preceded him in death.He was a devout Catholic who was baptized on the day he was born by the Catholic nuns who attended his mother during delivery. At age three Fred and his family relocated to Nashville, Tenn. In his youth he attended St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and school. He served his church in many capacities. He was an altar boy in his youth, a lector and school board member at St. Peter and Paul Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a lector, cantor, choir member, and parish council member at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church.After graduating from Pearl High School in Nashville, Tennessee, Fred attended Tennessee State University on a swim scholarship. He swam competitively for the Tiger Shark swim team. He received a bachelor of science degree from Tennessee State in 1952.After graduating from college he volunteered for the United States Air Force where he served five years active duty, honorably discharged in 1957, and then served fifteen years in the Air Force Reserves. He was a role model for his son who is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. His great-grandfather, Matthew Walker Singleton, fought in the Civil War and was discharged on April 25, 1866. Fred was proud to have in his possession his great-grandfather's Civil War discharge papers and was delighted to have had the opportunity to visit and view his great-grandfather's name listed on the Civil War Memorial to Black Solders in Washington, DC.After Freds active duty military service, he returned to Tennessee State University to pursue a masters degree in science. After receiving this degree, he began a teaching career at Howard High School in Chattanooga as a chemistry and physics teacher. While teaching at Howard School he received a grant to study at Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies, Traveling Science Program. Fred taught school for nine years and was a successful, dedicated teacher. Many of his students have gone on to have successful science careers. In addition to his degrees from Tennessee State University, he attended Fisk University and received a masters degree in management from the University of Utah. Fred left his teaching career to direct a $2.5 million Manpower Development and Training Program in Chattanooga, and worked with that program for three years.Fred continued his career in government by serving as the Intergovernmental Liaison Specialist for Manpower Development Program with the Community Service Administration, formerly the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in Atlanta. He left OEO to work for the United States Department of Energy, Revision IV, Atlanta. He was responsible for planning, directing, and developing Regional and National Energy Conservation and Solar Application Policies and Programs. He retired from the Department of Energy on June 28, 2000.Fred held membership in numerous organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Knights of Columbus Catholic fraternal organization. He was one of the first black men in Tennessee to be inducted into the Knights of Columbus.Fred was a jovial person who loved to talk and had a gift of being able to talk on many subjects. He met no strangers. He loved music, especially classical music.Fred leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife of 54 years, Claudette James Singleton; one daughter, Christa-Marie Singleton, MD, MPH; one son, Lt. Colonel (USAF) James Frederic Singleton; one grandson, Matthew Christopher Thomas Horne; one niece, Bernadette (Claude) Whatley; one nephew, Robert (Monica) Johnson, both of Nashville; a devoted 10 year old cat, Miz Ethel, and many relatives and friends.Funeral arrangements for Fred H. Singleton are being handled by H.M Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA. 30319, 404-261-3510.There will be a vigil service with a rosary to follow at H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel 6-8 p.m. today, Aug. 24, 2012. Visitation will occur between 6-7:30 p.m. and the vigil service will be held from 7:30-8 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1350 Hearst Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.Interment with military honors will immediately follow at Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, Ga., followed by a reception for family and friends at Our Lady of the Assumptions Marist Hall.In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made in Fred H. Singletons name to the Emory Alzheimers Disease Research Center, c/o Emory University Health Sciences Development, 1440 Clifton Road, NE, Suite 112, Atlanta, GA 30329.