Priscilla Fries

Christina “Priscilla” Fries, 97, of Piqua, passed away late Sunday evening, December 15, 2024, at Ohio’s Hospice Inpatient Unit, Troy. She was born June 29, 1927 in Lightsville, Ohio, to the late Alpha L. and Clara (Coby) Armstrong-Clark. She married the love of her life, Richard O. Fries, on May 17, 1946; he preceded her in death due to an auto accident in 1962.

Priscilla is survived by eight of her 12 children, Christine Wray, Mark Fries, David (Freda) Fries, Janet Fries, Ruth (Dan) Hathaway, James Fries, Elisabeth (Joel) Brannon and Carol Dickenson, all of Piqua; two sons-in-law, Robert Powers of Piqua and Mike (Susan) Kueterman of Troy; 56 grandchildren and their spouses and their families. She was preceded in death by four children, Gavin Fries, Rebecca Kueterman, Bonnie Smith and Catherine Powers; a grandson, Jason Wright; a great-granddaughter, Mackenzie Fries, a great-grandson, Benjamin Kueterman; and a son-in-law, Jeff Dickenson.

She was a 1946 graduate of Piqua Central High School and was a lifelong homemaker. Having been widowed at a young age with 12 children, she lived by the motto “God and I”. She lived on a widow’s pension, trusted the Lord, and God always met her needs. As her children grew and moved out of the house, Priscilla cared for other children in her home, and later took care of several adults in their homes. 

Priscilla was a faithful 70+ year member of the Piqua Apostolic Temple, joining the church under Bishop Dorsey A. Simmons in 1954. She was pastored by her son-in-law, Dan Hathaway, for 32 years, and was still currently a member under the pastorship of Daniel Mundy. She served as a Sunday School teacher for many years and also worked as a teacher’s aide at Piqua Christian School.

A Celebration of her Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 21, at Piqua Apostolic Temple, 830 Covington Ave., Piqua, with Pastor Dan Hathaway and Pastor Daniel Mundy officiating. Burial will follow in Miami Memorial Park, Covington. Friends may visit with the family from 12-1 p.m. Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Missions at Piqua Apostolic Temple or Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County. Arrangements are in care of Moore Funeral Home, Covington. Online condolences may be left for the Fries family at moorefh.com.