Harvey L. Fried, age 87, of rural Crestline, died March 29, 2014 in the log home that meant so much to him. He had been in failing health, but had gotten much worse in the past few months. Harvey was born January 14, 1927 in Willoughby, Ohio, but his family returned to Crawford County when he was a few weeks old. He lived there all of his life about a mile from the farm where he was raised. His parents, Salathial "Smitty" and G. Leone (Boudinot) Fried were farmers and worked very hard. They instilled in him a very strong work ethic at an early age and Harvey was doing chores before he started school in Tiro, Ohio.
He was not afraid to work hard. Harvey always said, "when I work, I work hard and when I play, I play hard". He was always willing to help his friends, no matter how hard the job.
He attended Tiro High School but dropped out to join the Navy when he was 17. World War II was going strong and he thought he had a better chance of coming back if he joined the Navy. He was assigned to a fleet oil tanker, USS Suamico (AO49). Their job was to get fuel to the battleships and destroyers and could refuel two two ships at once. He was waiting to invade Japan when the war was over, returning to the states with an honorable discharge. Soon after his return, he began working at Copperweld from which he retired.
Harvey was married in 1947 and had four children; two daughters, Brenda (Larry) Hughes and Beth Stidham and two sons; Michael (Faye) Fried and Monte (Jennifer) Fried. His children live close to him and were the joy of his life. He has four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by his wife Brenda Groves Fried, whom he married in 1997; five stepchildren; Jessie (Michael) Bassett, Donna (Bob) Mollenkopft, Connie Groves, Fred D.(Candy) Groves, and Clifton Groves; four step grandchildren, four step-great grandchildren; his sister, Alice Mae Baker, nephew Larry Fried, sister-in-law, Marilyn Fried and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Harold Fried and sister, Naomi Armbruster.
Harvey loved life. At a young age his mother taught him to dance and he had "happy feet". He loved to dance to bluegrass music, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He danced with all the pretty girls. He would always say he never had to dance with an ugly girl because they all wanted to dance with him! He rode a Harley until he was 75 years old, quitting only due to affects of type II diabetes.
As per Harvey's wishes there will be no visitation or funeral service. He will be cremated with his ashes scattered in the woods that he loved so dearly. Harvey was a very special man who loved life and his family and friends. No one who ever knew Harvey will ever forget him.
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