Retired social worker Frederic David Fraley dies

Raised on a tobacco farm near Dungannon that had the first television set in the area, Tazewell County native Frederic David Fraley grew up fascinated by media.

He played his guitar with a band on a daily radio show in the 1950s in Norton and was talking to fellow ham radio operators in Morse code by the time he was 15.

After retiring from a career in social work in 2005, he started Fraley Family Videography and later produced and was host of a cable TV program called "People Helping People," which attracted national attention.

Mr. Fraley, the retired director of a former regional state social services office in Lynchburg and the former director of social services for the city of Danville, died Tuesday at 71.

A celebration of the Lynchburg resident's life will be held today, Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg. Private inurnment of his ashes will be held in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

In September 2008, Dungannon High School honored him with its Mountain Treasure Award, given to graduates who have distinguished themselves in their careers, community, family and personal life.

After graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in 1960, the Cadet Corps alumnus served in the Army Signal Corps.

Three years later, a job with the Wise County Welfare Department launched his 40-year career in social work.

Mr. Fraley earned a master of social work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and then served as social work supervisor in Halifax County and director of social services for Montgomery County.

In 1971, he became director of a newly created regional Virginia Department of Welfare regional office in Lynchburg, where he retired in 1991. During that time, he married Richmond social worker Mary Ellen Deckelman.

After retiring, he taught in the VCU School of Social Work and later served as director of social services for the city of Danville, where he retired. He continued as president of the board of the Crisis Line, a central Virginia suicide-prevention agency.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, David Clark Fraley of Richmond; and a sister, Carol Jean Laferty of Morehead, Ky.