Mr. Fred Mervin Oliver's Obituary
Funeral Service for Mr. Fred Mervin Oliver, 92, of New Site, Alabama, will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Randy Anderson will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 3, 2024 from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm at Radney Funeral Home.
Mr. Oliver passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2024. He was born on April 10, 1932 in New Site, Alabama to Thomas Judson Oliver and Jewel Hand Oliver.
Mr. Oliver was a graduate of New Site High School. He served in the Alabama National Guard, 278th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion before entering the United States Army in 1954. His military service took him to Austria, Italy, and Germany. During the Korean Conflict, he served with the 202nd Military Police company in Austria and the 793rd Military Police Company in Germany.
Mr. Oliver began working at Old Number One Mill for Russell Southern in 1952, where cut baseball uniforms for a wage of .75 cents an hour. After he completed his Army service in 1956, he returned to work at Russell Mills in the Lightweight Department at Number One Mill, laying up and cutting Fruit of the Loom underwear. He cut the first thermal underwear that Russell Mills made. He later worked at Number One Heavyweight Department and the Sample Department. He eventually transferred to the Russell Machine Shop, where he later became the Supervisor of the Machinists, a position he continued in until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Oliver was also known around the area as "Friendly Fred."
Mr. Oliver married his wife Patty shortly after returning home from his military service. Later, in 1963, they built their home in New Site. He has been known locally for driving his 1964 Blue Ford Club Wagon Van full of passengers, from New Site to their various jobs at Number One Mill and also for his ability to grow delicious blueberries. Mr. Oliver served his community as the voting poll inspector for 14 years. He was a member of Wayside Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Patty Butler Oliver; his sons, Dariel Oliver and Richard Oliver (Melissa); his daughter, Susan Oliver Hardy; his four grandchildren: Chris Hardy (Brandi), April Hardy Harris (Clay), Spencer Oliver (Ashley) and Skyler Oliver; and his five great-grandchildren: Brier Hardy, Sage Hardy, Raleigh Anna Harris, John Parker Harris, and Ramsey Oliver; his brother-in-law, Terry Butler; and sisters-in-law, Brenda Forehand and Teena Blythe, and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Oliver was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Larry Oliver, Kenneth Oliver, Wrenfro Oliver, Heflin Oliver, and Fletcher Oliver; and his sisters: Louise Oliver Morgan and Freida Oliver Powell.
Radney Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Fred Mervin Oliver.
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