Obituary
Death of G. W. Fritz.
A special notice from Blakesburg tells of the death of G. W. Fritz, who married Brydella Fowler, daughter of Mrs. Dora Fowler.
Mr. George Fritz, one of our prominent young men, son of the late R. Fritz who has been sick with throat trouble for several months past, died at his home in this place Sunday afternoon at 2:30. Deceased was about 33 years of age and leaves a wife and two children besides many friends to mourn his sad demise. A few years ago George Fritz went to Seattle, Washington where he engaged in business, and was seemingly prospering until his health broke down, and he was compelled to sell in an inopportune time, and return to this place where his relatives reside, hoping to find improvement by a change of climate. It was too late, however, for the trouble had become so deeply seated that death had fastened its fingers upon him, and notwithstanding the persistent battle that he waged, the fatal disease came to a sudden termination on Sunday.
He was thought to be better last Tuesday, and even up to the day of his death and every encouragement and comfort was held out to him. Gradually he began sinking Sunday morning, and his bright young life ebbed away like the falling of the autumn leaves.
Geo. Fritz was a brother of Wm. and Frank Fritz, Mrs. M. H. Abernathy, Mrs. Frank Hardy and Mrs. Will Shea, and was at all times an honorable and thoroughly square young man, a mark of ability and push, when governed by health and hopefulness. The funeral which took place from his late home this afternoon was largely attended.
Note that his father's initial should be B, not R. I also suspect his wife's name may have been Byrdella, as she went by the nickname Birdie.
"Death of G. W. Fritz." Centerville Daily Citizen. Page 3, Column 2--3. (Centerville, Iowa: 21 September 1898), Centerville Historical Society
(http://centerville.advantage-preservation.com/content/centerville-daily-citizen-1898-09-21-page-3 : accessed 15 Dec 2013).