Fred Arlington Alsbury, 86, passed away July 9, 2010 in Irving, Texas after struggling for several months with multiple health issues. He was born in Houston, Texas September 20, 1923 to Electa Smith and Edward Merritt Alsbury. Although he grew up in the big city, he spent many summers with his mothers family in Blanket, Texas where his grandparents owned the local phone company. He watched his aunts; Flora, Mary, Sarah and Clara work the old plug-in switchboard on the covered porch of their home. We are all blessed that his sweet Aunt Clara, at age 98, was here to visit and comfort Fred in his final weeks. In 1941, he graduated high school from San Jacinto High School in Houston and went on to Texas A&M where he was a member of the Corps. He was cleaning 3rd floor outside windows at the dorm when he heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. A year later on December 5, 1942, he enlisted in the Army-Air Force and became a communications specialist. After completing basic and advanced training in several locations stateside, on November 1, 1943, he was assigned to the Collin P. Kelly, Jr. Liberty ship in Newport News, VA. The ship carried Fred and 496 other soldiers in bunks stacked 6 high across the Atlantic in a convoy with 85 ships while avoiding a German submarine wolf pack. The troops encountered many dangers in their travel and performance of their dutiesa couple of which could have easily taken Freds life. After serving his country in India for almost 3 years, he was finally shipped back to the States in November of 1945 and arrived in the Port of New York where the 509-foot ship was listing to one side because all of the sailors on board were standing along one rail looking at the Statue of Liberty. In 1951, Fred married Mary Frances Hardie. She was a vivacious petite redhead and the life of any party. They lived in the Houston, Texas area until 1973 when Fred was transferred with Frito Lay to the Dallas area. They purchased a home in Irving, Texas and resided there with their 2 children, Fred G. and Melissa Sue. He designed electrical systems for Frito Lay used in producing numerous snack products. Being an engineer, he was a very detail oriented man, both in work and in everyday life. The devil is in the details, he would say. Mary Frances preceded him in death in 2002 after having a serious stroke. She believed in giving back to her community and her family. She helped raise her beautiful granddaughter Ashley Michele Alsbury and volunteered at Baylor-Irving Hospital as a Pink Lady for over 30 years. Fred is survived by his son, Fred G., daughter-in-law Barbara and granddaughter Ashley Michele, all of Irving, Texas, by his daughter, Melissa Sue Harvey, son-in-law, Fred K. Harvey, Jr.; grandchildren, Spring Harvey and Chase Harvey; also, by his beloved Aunt Clara along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held honoring Fred at noon on July 14, 2010 at Donnellys Colonial Funeral Home. A brief military salute and interment service will also be held later in the week at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery. A special thanks goes out to Linda, Bob & Gramps Wempa, Randy and Penny Faulkner, Ruby Rose and other neighbors and friends who have been so supportive of Fred and his family. Lastly, our love and thanks to our beautiful Great Aunt Clara, who emanates the joy of life, love and brings happiness to all those around her. The family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.