Billy G. Fridley

Billy Gerald Fridley, 78, of Blairsville, passed away at home on Monday April 28, 2025, due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded by loving family and friends as he departed this life and entered into eternal glory.

He was born Jan. 21, 1947, to Calvin William Fridley and Virginia Marie Stewart in Starford. He was the fourth of eight children. He also had two half-siblings and one stepsibling.

Billy was a 1964 graduate of Blairsville High School. Halfway through his senior year, he enlisted in the United States Navy under the “Kitty Cruiser Program,” which allowed enlistees to complete their service the day before their twenty-first birthday. He worked mainly as a repair welder until 1968 and served on the following ships: Joseph K. Tassuage (DE-1030), USS Chipolia (A063), and the USS Conserver (ARS39).

During his time in the service Billy was exposed to “Agent Orange,” a highly toxic herbicide linked to various health issues (including Parkinson’s Disease) developed by countless Vietnam War veterans later in life.

He met his dear wife, Donna, in Sept. of 1966 while his ship was docked in Portland, Ore. The couple soon married on April 11, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their union produced three children and a lively brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After completing his service for the navy, Billy worked a myriad of jobs but ultimately spent the majority of his career as a coal miner for the Helen Mining Company in Homer City and as an LPN for Interim Health Care, the latter of which he retired from in 2009.

Billy was a devoted man of faith and has stated that his advice to his grandchildren and all future generations is to “Love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.”

Always an outdoorsman, Billy loved fishing, hunting, walking, camping, and spending time in God’s creation. He also enjoyed watching old westerns on TV and devouring as many of those 84-cent pies from Walmart that he could stomach in one sitting. He derived great joy from teasing his brood of grandchildren (though they secretly loved it) and eating all of his wife’s culinary delights and creations. Although known by many as “Frid” and a few as “Dad,” he’ll always be remembered most fondly as “Poppy.”

Though his absence will be felt keenly, Billy’s family takes comfort in knowing that he is keeping busy in heaven with his dog, Lila (he’s actually probably just fishing), and that he’s having a good long chat with the apostle Paul while he waits for the family he created and all those he loved to join him.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Donna Dorreen (Culver) Fridley, of Blairsville, and their three children: Heidi Sulkosky and husband Leroy, of Blairsville; Wendy Jasper and husband Eric, of Blairsville; and Billy Joe Fridley, of Blairsville. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, including Jordan Gibson and husband Garret, of Blairsville; Noah Tarr and wife Lisa, of Greenville; Billy Calvin Fridley and fiancée Rebecca, of Slickville; Tyler Jasper, of Leesburg, VA.; Kylie Jasper, of Akron, Ohio; Seth Sulkosky, of Blairsville; Donna Eva-Doreen Fridley, of Greensburg; Kiara and Ayra Holt, of FL. His great-grandchildren include Elianna and Brooks Gibson, Geno and Lucia Tarr and Kwazierre Rollins. He is survived by six siblings: Terry Fridley and wife Joyce, of Blairsville; Sammy Fridley and wife Karen, of Clarksburg; Denise Joyner, of Homer City; Barry Fridley and wife Tammy, of Navarre, FL.; Cindy Butts and husband Nick, of Derry; and Brenda Boring, of Greensburg.

He is also survived by many wonderful life-long friends and four honorary grandchildren: Patrick Nadzadi, of Knoxville, TN; Kathiria Enid Torres, of Greensburg; Bethany Elliott, of Indiana; and Benjamin Strong, of Shelocta.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; three siblings: Beverly, Joan and Janice; two grandchildren: Jacob Benard and Brenton Fridley, both stillborn; and his partner-in-crime and much-beloved dog, Lila Bell Fridley.

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 1-3 PM and 5 until the funeral service at 7 PM with Pastor Gerald Mershimer officiating at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc. 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville. Inurnment will be held on Friday, May 2nd at 10 AM in the Blairsville Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by the Blairsville Military Honor Guard at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorial donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047. You may also donate on-line at www.lbda.org.

Billy’s family would like to thank the VA, Excela Hospice, Bayada Home Health Care and the many individuals, especially Christina, Josh, Helen, Kim and Nurse Ashley who participated in his daily care over the last 12 months. This support and labor of love enabled Bill to enjoy his remaining time on Earth in the comforts of his home, surrounded by family while doing the things he loved most.