Robert Fraley was born to Norma Elnore Beinhoff and Alva O. Fraley in Huntington, W. Va., on May 18, 1925. He was born into a blue collar family and his father worked for Ohio Electric. He had one brother, Ralph Eugene, and other siblings that were stillborn. Bob grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, where he graduated from high school and then enlisted into the Navy. He served with honor at Pearl Harbor and in the South Pacific during WWII as a signalman until the war was over. Upon his return home, Bob was called to the ministry and attended Ashland College where he graduated in 1952 and received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Religion. After he attended Oberlin Graduate School of Theology and received a Bachelor of Divinity degree, he also received a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt. After graduating from Vanderbilt he met and married the love of his life, Ruth Leone Snyder and they married on June 4, 1949, in Butler, Ohio. Ruth’s mother said the marriage would never last, however Ruth died one day after their 59th wedding anniversary. Bob and Ruth pastored for 50 plus years having four children, Cassandra, Daniel (Cheryl), Keith (Debra) and Deborah (Lisa). Together, Bob and Ruth were blessed with many grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Bob loved his family and he performed the marriages of all of his children and grandchildren. Bob first pastored in Ohio. He then pastored churches in Moorpark, El Cajon, Santa Ana, Northridge and San Fernando in Southern California as a clergy member of the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Early in his career Bob was the resident pastor of the Ministerial Association in San Fernando Valley. Serving as a full clergy member of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, Pastor Bob finished his years of ministry in Arizona as the pastor of a double appointment to Holbrook United Methodist Church and White Mountain United Methodist Church in Show Low. Bob served as the first pastor of the new campus of the White Mountain United Methodist Church. Later in Show Low, Pastor Bob started the Transients Aid Program, served as chairman of the Salvation Army and started the Helping Hands assistance program. Bob will always be remembered for his giving to the poor and helping the transients. Pastor Bob was also a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He also was the recipient of the “Million Mile Award” for the veteran’s disability van. Pastor Bob was honored by White Mountain United Methodist Church, his home church, in April 2016, as their Pastor Emeritus. Bob left to go be with Ruth and his Lord on Sept. 20, 2016. Bob is preceded in death by his wife Ruth, his brother Ralph, his father Alva and his mother Edna. May the angels sing as he enters heavens gates! Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the White Mountain United Methodist Church, located at 261 N. 5th St. in Show Low. Pastor Michael Downing will be officiating. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
