Heaven gained someone very special on April 26, 2021, as William Clayton Fry, Jr (Bill), of Park City, Kansas, passed from this world to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.

Born third of six children to William Clayton and Donna Irene (Willard) Fry on October 29, 1953, Bill had many (mostly) fond memories of his siblings growing up. In 2006, Bill blessed his family by penning "The Life and Times of William C. Fry, Jr.", and presenting the printed and bound document to each of his adult children for Christmas. This gift provided a written history in Bill's own words that is treasured today. Key dates are documented – although his family might tell you that he had a knack for mixing up dates when it is semi-important; like on cemetery headstones, marriage certificates, and one daughter's birthday is incorrect in his autobiography. At least he was consistent in his quirks! With that said, he wrote that the most important date in his life was July 22, 1964. It was on this date that Bill says he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Bill's personality was loving and kind, with a large helping of being a jokester added for good measure. He was quite ornery and always giving others a hard time – be it taking a toy from one of his grandkids and telling them it was "his", the never ending hard time he gave Janelle for her tattoos, or his insistence that WSU basketball was superior to any team in Kansas, regardless of the stats his kids may have presented. Even in the days before his passing, when his nurse offered him ice chips after surgery, he joked that he would prefer a t-bone steak.

His big heart and kindhearted nature were evident through his love of his daughters, Janelle and Bethany. In February 1989, that love grew exponentially as he married his soul mate and best friend, Carolyn, and extended the family with her children Michelle and Dan, who Bill treated as his own. His selflessness shined bright late in their life as Bill spent countless hours tending to Carolyn and her chronic health issues without complaint.

Remembered fondly for his love of airplanes, cars, road trips and photography, Bill used these hobbies to create lasting memories for his family. Many summer afternoons were spent at the McConnell AFB air show, or touring airplane museums and "boneyards". Once when his granddaughter Kierstin was at a cheerleading competition in Tulsa, OK, Bill drove two-and-a-half hours only to watch her two-minute performance, then turned around and drove home. Every one of these memories captured by his camera that hung from a strap around his neck. He was "old school" with photography, and preferred the traditional camera to a camera phone, although he did adopt digital images rather than developing film in a dark room as he once did.

As a tradesman, Bill had three primary working paths during and after high school. He first worked at the Derby station that his dad owned on east Kellogg for about ten years. He then started for working at a couple of print shops, where he operated a printing press for about twelve years. Lastly, and the greatest part of his professional legacy was starting at Beechcraft in 1990 and continuing there until he retired as an inspector in 2019.

As an adult, the Lord shined through Bill in many ways. When his daughters Janelle and Bethany were young, he was faithful in teaching them God's word and raising them to be followers of Jesus Christ. Bill served in other capacities, including mission trips, truck stop bible studies, driving the church bus full of kids, and many, many other ways. Bill's love of the Lord is the most important thing he would want shared of his legacy.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Carolyn (Carnahan) Fry; his four children, Michelle Burke, Daniel (Carrie) Beal, Janelle (Brian) Lindseth, and Bethany (Cortney) Otte. Those who called him Papa include Marie Pierson, Daniel Hannaman, Jackson Lindseth, Amber Adelhardt, Emily Orr, Kierstin Lindseth, Nicholas Orr, Elijah Beal, and Kyler Otte. Bill also had four great grandchildren, Conrad Fowler, MaKenzie Orr, Cooper Fowler, and Evan Adelhardt. "Billy" will also be missed by his siblings, Daniel (Rhonda) Fry, Bernadette (Stan) Schultz, Michael (Kim) Fry, Melinda Scriven, and Rebecca Simpson.  Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William and Donna Fry, his son Randall William Fry (stillborn) and granddaughter Lilyanah Elyse Otte (stillborn).

Family and friends are invited to join us in a celebration of life at 10 am on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church, 320 N. Sheridan Ave, Valley Center, Kansas. The family will have a private burial at Kechi Township Cemetery, 6523 N. Hillside Ave, Wichita, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, Bill's family requests contributions to Calvary Baptist for their transportation program in honor of Bill Fry, the bus guy.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com