Fred Russell Bay

Lost Classmate : JUNE 17, 2021

Fred Bay was a unique individual blessed in this life with many talents and a compassion for others. His many friends remember fondly their times in the Marietta High School marching band; their trips to games and band camp. Those were the "good old days". Fred loved music. His abilities and talents took him from being an amateur ham radio operator in his youth to the special license plate with special call sign that identifies his car today. His intellect and dedication to learning earned him a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. He built a career of 34 years with Hewlett-Packard serving both domestically and internationally. His interests took him from his boyhood hobbies to a love of golf and finally telescopes and the stars. His biography would tell of a man with a great heart and compassion for his family and friends. He was the father of the Marietta High School Class of 1959 website and a mentor to others building theirs. He built and maintained a routine ZOOM schedule for classmates and friends to gather and visit from great distances each week for more than two hours; the gatherings resembled reunions of persons who had not seen one another for fifty or more years. This was Fred's gift. Fred Bay was, very simply, a really good man and friend who lived a life to the fullest. He fought a courageous battle against cancer which he was winning until the evil hand of COVID attacked his weakened immune system. He will be missed by his wife, three sons, grandchildren, great-granddaughter and all of his friends in Marietta and beyond. 

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                                                  OBITUARY

Fred Russell Bay, 79, of Cincinnati, OH, went to be with Jesus on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati.

He was born on July 10, 1941, in Marietta a son of the late F. Graydon and Thelma A. Bay.

Fred was a graduate of Marietta High School, Class of 1959, and University of Cincinnati with an Engineering Degree and a Master of Business Administration. He was a Manager of High End Servers with Hewlett Packard for 32 years.

Fred enjoyed golf, bowling and palates that kept him young.

He was a Warren County, OH Park Commissioner, Co-Founder of Warren County Astronomical Society, Warren County Certified Volunteer Naturalist through Ohio State University, 4th Degree Knight of Columbus in the Blessed Sacrament Assembly 2879, and was a 65 year Ham Operator, call K8ll.

One accomplishment that Fred was so proud of was his Saturday classmates get together on web cameras. He was so proud and happy because classmates called/emailed him saying how he had helped them get through Covid and brought the class back together again.

Fred was a loving husband of 44 years to Judy Lynn Bay who survives with 3 sons Jeff Bay, Steve Bay (wife Kristal and children Kayla Bay Pasicznyk (husband Drew), daughters Davy and Stevie) and Tyler Bay (Best friend Jessica) and Doug Bay (wife Tricia and children Graydon, Soren & Clara) and many friends and classmates.

His sister, Joan Schramm preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (June 23) at 10 a.m. at Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption. Family will greet friends at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 5-8 p.m.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at: Condolences@Lankfordfh.com