Frederick Francis Moffett - Obituary

rederick Francis Moffett, “Freddie” or “Fred” to his family and his friends, was born on Rust Farm in Leesburg, Virginia, to Harvey Hartgrove Moffett and Margaret Frances Moffett on November 27, 1915. He was the eldest of two sons; his younger brother, Raymond “Buster” Moffett, was a constant companion and home improvement collaborator throughout his lifetime. When he was a young boy, his family moved to the Congress Heights area of Washington, DC, where Harvey ran a chicken and egg business. When young Fred wasn’t helping his father, he played, rode his horse, and trapped muskrats on the banks of the Anacostia River, on land which is now Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. He made lifelong friends with his easy smile and lasting loyalty, and continued to run with them into his golden years. As a son of Washington, he had many thrills and disappointments following the Washington Redskins for decades. Freddie was a teenager during the Great Depression. Taking time off from Eastern High School to help support his family, he returned to graduate the following year. Over the years, his parents took in boarders, including a teenage girl from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, who had recently lost her mother, Ella Mills James. Their long courtship was interrupted by World War II when Freddie entered the US Army, saw combat action in North Africa, and returned home with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and shrapnel in his lower back. Freddie and Ella married on June 15, 1944, in Ellicott City, Maryland, and later became proud parents of two sons, Daniel Lee Moffett, Sr., and Lanny Francis Moffett. They raised their family in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in a house that Freddie built himself with the help of many family members and friends. His next door neighbors were his brother, Buster; sister-in-law Thelma Gene “Gee Gee” Moffett, and nephew, Robert Harvey Moffett. They shared many memorable meals inspired by Gee Gee’s West Virginia country cooking. Summer vacations included many happy trips to upstate New York where Ella’s sister and brother-in-law, Nola Mamie “Biddie” and Glenn Riley, lived with their sons, Fred “Butch” and Jimmy Riley. After retiring from the Railway Express Agency as a District Operations Manager, Freddie had more time to devote to his many interests and talents. He was an avid deer hunter and a lifetime member of the Tri-State Sports Club. He hunted well into his 90s. An accomplished woodworker, Freddie churned out cradles, bird houses, whirligigs, and other items from his basement shop, all marked with his signature “FFM” brand. Widowed in 1981, Freddie drove across America visiting Army buddies, family, and friends. When baseball returned to Washington, DC, in 2005, he became a dedicated Washington Nationals fan, and experienced the thrill of a lifetime when he was honored in an on-field pre-game celebration of his military service and centenarian status that was arranged by the Foundation 4 Heroes of California, Maryland. Family time was important to Freddie, and he especially enjoyed visits with his grandchildren, Daniel Lee Moffett, Jr., William Frederick Moffett, and Jennifer Carroll Kirby; and his great grandchildren, Anna Carroll Kirby, Ella Moon Moffett, Ellen Pauline Kirby, Ava Grace Moffett, Liam Elliott Moffett, and Harrison Lee Moffett. His daughters-in-law, Elaine Moffett and Joanne Moffett, loved him like their own fathers. “Uncle Freddie” was beloved by his many nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Moffett clan and extended family members, especially the families of Alice Miller and Katie Reed. His family is grateful to the staff at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home where he lived since June 2015, the staff at Calvert Memorial Hospital where he spent his last days, and most especially for the kindness and thoughtfulness of everyone who visited or sent their well wishes for his recovery and comfort. Relatives and friends are invited to Fred's Celebration of Life on Thursday, January 26 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD where services will be held on Friday, January 27 at 10 a.m.. Interment Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA at 1 p.m.