William H. FRAZIER

FRAZIER, CHAFFIN, ANDERSON, LONGWELL, CAMP, HERNANDEZ, MCKINNEY, BRUNLINGER, BEAVER, OSOGWIN, BLAKE, MYSINGER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/11/2007 at 09:39:42

Copyright -- The Village News, Fallbrook CA
March 31, 2006

Education leader William Frazier succumbs at 93
by Debbie Ramsey, Managing Editor

Regarded as a strong Christian and heralded as a respected leader in the field of education, William H. Frazier, former superintendent of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, who died in his sleep March 17, will be remembered for the many contributions he made in his dedicated service to the children and families of this community.

“Bill had high moral values which he exhibited in all his dealings with both staff and the public,” said fellow educator and friend Faus Smyth. “In addition, Bill gave freely of his time and energy to the community.”

Serving 20 years with the elementary school district (1957-1977), a prominent reminder of Frazier’s positive impact on the education of Fallbrook children is the school that carries his name – William H. Frazier Elementary on Gum Tree Lane.

Deserving of the honor, Frazier had guided the Fallbrook Elementary School District through a period of tremendous growth, overseeing the development of James E. Potter Junior High School, San Onofre School and La Paloma Elementary School.

“He set a solid foundation for quality education here in Fallbrook,” said daughter Celeste Chaffin, a special education teacher at Frazier Elementary.

Born on October 18, 1912, in Los Angeles, Frazier went on to graduate from Arizona State University at Tempe in 1934 and began his teaching career in Tombstone, AZ. In 1937 he returned to California and accepted a position in Riverside, where he taught at the middle school level and enjoyed coaching sports teams until 1944. His education career was interrupted when he served in the United States Navy during World War II and assumed the position of Head Officer of Welfare and Recreation on the island of Guam.

After returning to Riverside, where he accepted a position as a school principal, Frazier’s next move was to Caracas, Venezuela, where for six years he was director of the American Schools.

In 1957, Bill Frazier, his wife Lois [formerly of Eagle Grove, Iowa] and daughters Jane, Virginia (Ginger) and Celeste returned to the United States and settled in Fallbrook. Shortly after, Bill Frazier secured his Master of Arts degree from Claremont College.

While serving as superintendent of Fallbrook Elementary School District from 1957 to 1977, Frazier was deemed an innovator in education, apparent in the construction of the San Onofre and La Paloma schools, where he implemented the concepts of the Open Classroom and Learning Center, where Resource Teachers, along with classroom teachers, form a team effort to enhance the growth of critical learning for students.

“He cared about the [school] district and all its employees,” said Chaffin. “He was a leader with integrity who knew he wanted to help in society with children.”

In addition to his leadership as an educator, he selflessly gave of his time as a civic leader by serving as an officer or board member for many community, cultural, service and professional clubs including Fallbrook Community Concerts Association, Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, the Fallbrook Fire District, Fallbrook Rotary Club, People to People community employment service, Christ The King Lutheran Preschool and more. William Frazier was proud to be a founder of Fallbrook’s Christ The King Lutheran Church.

As a father, Frazier’s children remember him as being very artistic and an enthusiastic woodcarver, making doll furniture for his daughters and rocking animals for his grandchildren.

Remembered as an educator, father, friend, leader, community volunteer and devout Christian, Frazier will be mourned, and rightly so, by the Fallbrook community.

He is survived by his wife Lois Anderson Frazier of Fallbrook; daughters and sons-in-law Celeste and Glenn Chaffin, Fallbrook, CA, Virginia (Ginger) and John Longwell of Tustin, CA, and Jane and Tom Camp of Phoenix, AZ; daughters Derry Gerald and Gail Hernandez; ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

“He was a credit to this community and together with his family and many friends. I will miss him,” said Smyth.

A memorial service will be held for William H. Frazier on Saturday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ The King Lutheran Church in Fallbrook. A reception will be held immediately following the service. The Frazier family suggests memorial donations be made in his name to the Christ The King Preschool.

North County Times, CA
March 28, 2006

FALLBROOK - William H. Frazier, 93, died of natural causes Friday, March 17, 2006, at his home in Silvergate Retirement Manor in Fallbrook. Born Oct. 18, 1912, in Los Angeles, he lived in Fallbrook for 51 years. He retired in 1977 as superintendent of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II in Guam and the Pacific, retiring as a lieutenant. He was on the Fallbrook Fire District Board for three years. He was vice president of the Chamber of Commerce for two years. He was a member of the Fallbrook Rotary Club from 1964 to 1992 and served as a president. He was a founding member of the Fallbrook Community Concerts Association from 1970 to 1987. He was a charter and founding member of Christ the King Lutheran Church and served as chairman of the congregation from 1983 to 1987. He was a member of the Board of Directors and past chairman of the board of "People to People" community service organization. He was a past member of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District Insurance Committee. He received a bachelor' s degree from Arizona State University in 1934, and master' s degree in administrative education in 1960, at Claremont Graduate School, where he was a member of Kappa Delta Phi. He went to Chaffey High School.

Mr. Frazier was preceded in death by his mother, Hattie McKinney, in 1969. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois Frazier [formerly of Eagle Grove, Iowa] of Fallbrook; daughters and sons-in-law Jane and Tom Camp, Ginger and John Longwell, Celeste and Glenn Chaffin, Gail Hernandez and Derry Gerald; grandchildren Ryan and Bethany Chaffin, Tony and Tasha Camp, Christy Camp, Matt and Sarah Longwell, Kimberly Brunlinger, Krista Beaver, Sharla Osogwin, Pamela Blake and Debbie Mysinger; great-grandchildren Hayden, Canice, Geddy, Broddy, Pantera, Raven, Katrina, Krystal, Alyson, Brandon, David and Jaxon; and great-great-grandchildren Delynn and Tyler.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2006, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1620 S. Stage Coach Lane in Fallbrook with Pastor Phil Tukua officiating. Interment at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside is planned. The family suggests donations to Christ the King Christian Preschool, Pre-K and Day Care. Berry-Bell & Hall Mortuary is handling arrangements.