Gladys Lillian Fritsche

March 22, 1934 - January 17, 2021

Funeral services for Gladys Fritsche, 86 of Loebau, Texas, are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Christ Lutheran Church in Loebau with Rev. Garrett Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The family will be present for visitation Wednesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. Gladys Lillian (Bittner) Fritsche was born on March 22, 1934 in Loebau, Texas, the daughter of Alvin William Bittner and Wilhemine “Minnie” Esther (Schulze) Bittner. She was baptized on April 15, 1934 by Rev. William Remmert and confirmed on March 21, 1948 by Rev. Herbert Hartfield at Christ Lutheran Church in Loebau. Her confirmation verse was Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart”. Gladys was united in marriage to Marvin Alton Fritsche on June 6, 1954 also at Christ Lutheran Church. They were blessed with two children, Sharon and Ricky. While living in Houston, Gladys worked for the Coca Cola Bottling Plant. After she and Marvin moved back to Giddings, she went to work for the Koslan Furniture Factory. She eventually spent over 30 years touching the lives of local families and their children by providing childcare in her home. She was an active member of the Giddings Son of Hermann Lodge 54 where she was part of the ladies barbeque cook off team. A former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings, she and Marvin transferred their membership to Christ Lutheran Church after moving to the farm in Loebau. Gladys enjoyed gardening, fishing, feeding her fish and decorating her home with Christmas lights. An excellent cook, she was the family matriarch when it came to making dressing. Gladys passed away the evening of Sunday, January 17, 2021 at the Giddings Residence and Rehabilitation Center. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin & Minnie Bittner; her husband of 57 years, Marvin Fritsche; her four sisters, Frieda Fritsche & her husband, Gilbert, Bernice Friedrich & her husband, Milton, Florence Fischer & her husband, Elmer, Frances Kappler Ganske and her husbands, Milton Kappler & Willie Ganske, and Laura Hosea; her three brothers, Martin Bittner & his wife, Evelyn, Milton Bittner, and Monroe Bittner; three brothers-in-law, Richard Fritsche & his wife, Laura, Ben Fritsche & his wife, Adelia, and Gilbert Fritsche & his wife, Frieda; four sisters-in-law, Adelia Nimtz, Ester Nimtz & her husband, Walter, Tillie Schramm & her husband, Charlie, and Ruby Teinert & her husband, Traugott. Gladys is survived by her two children, Sharon & Dennis Baylor Sr. of Rockdale and Ricky & Kim Fritsche of Loebau; six grandchildren, LaChelle & Todd Bradley of Giddings, DeAtera & David Bass of Michigan, Dennis & Krystal Baylor Jr. of Rockdale, Whitney & Tracy Hamilton of Loebau, Regan & David Monroe of Loebau, and Brooke Fritsche of Loebau; ten great grandchildren, Meghan & Erin Bass of Michigan, Ashlyn & Jhett Bradley of Giddings, Christian Bradley of Giddings, Colten, Ryleigh & Carter Baylor of Rockdale, Conrad “C.T.” Hamilton of Loebau, and Rylnn Monroe (who is scheduled to arrive in April); two sisters-in-law, Bernice Bittner of Giddings and Lillie Kuehnle of Spring; one brother-in-law, Herbert Hosea of Giddings, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Dennis Kappler, Larry Bittner, Charles Fritsche, Gary Fritsche, Marvin Fritsche, and Jason Kessler. Memorials may be made to the General Fund or the Cemetery Fund at Christ Lutheran Church in Loebau or to the charity of one’s choice.