Frederic "Fred" John Schroeder, Jr.

Frederic John Schroeder, Jr., 85, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at his residence at The Village at Brookwood in Burlington.

Fred was born in Bay Shore, Town of Islip, New York on January 9, 1939, to Frederic J. Schroeder, Sr. and Emelia Theresa Hageman Schroeder. He was a 1957 graduate of The Stony Brook School, a college preparatory school; and a 1961 graduate of Duke University, where he met the love of his life, Martha Lane Farmer Schroeder, of Bailey. 

Fred was “a man of steel” in our lives in more ways than one: he enjoyed a long and successful career in sales, marketing, and management within the steel industry, starting with U.S. Steel Corporation, and later Carolina Steel, Affiliated Metals, and Coil Tec. He enjoyed traveling to meet with his customers across the U.S., often choosing to drive rather than flying simply because he enjoyed the journey and freedom of being on the road. He and Lane lived in eight different states prior to moving back to North Carolina for their retirement years in Cypress Landing, Chocowinity.

Fred was an exemplary Cameron Crazie whose thunderous clapping and echoing boos against bad calls raised the decibel readings at many games–and within his neighborhood while watching games at home. The only thing that rivaled his enthusiasm for Duke basketball was his love and great pride in his wife, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family members. Fred especially enjoyed boating, fishing, and cleaning and polishing his boat and cars. Over the years, he was proud to serve his community as a volunteer, most recently in Chocowinity, as a member of the vestry and finance committee of Trinity Episcopal Church, President of the Cypress Landing Homeowners Association, boat inspector for the Pamlico Sail & Power Squadron, and volunteer with the Beaufort Co. Republican Party. 

Fred is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Lee Gibson. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 62 years, Martha Lane Farmer Schroeder; two daughters, Laurie Schroeder Halverson (widow of Mike Halverson) of Potomac, Maryland and Mary Schroeder Paisley (Tom) of Hillsborough; and his five grandchildren: Charles Halverson (Charlotte), Matthew Halverson, Evan Paisley, Marshall Paisley, and Emelia Paisley.

A funeral service will be held at Joyner’s Funeral Home in Wilson, on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with a graveside service immediately following in Bailey Cemetery, Bailey. The family will also receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson.

Donations in memory of Fred may be made to a charity of your choice or to Trinity Episcopal Church in Chocowinity, NC https://www.trinitychocowinity.org/giving.html 

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.