Fred Woodrow House

Fred Woodrow House was born on May 6, 1930, in Martin, Tennessee. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, early Saturday morning, May 17, 2025.

 He was 95 years old. He was the youngest of ten children born to Ernest L. House and Bertha L. (Jackson) House. He had six brothers and three sisters.

 In his youth, he worked hard, farming with his family, often moving around while share-cropping. He played trumpet in the school band and played wingback on the Martin Panthers High School football team. He was also co-captain of the football team, as well as a member of the Future Farmers of America. 

He was married to three godly women. His first wife, Margie (Baker) House, from 1949 until her death in 2007; his second wife, Nancy (Whitehead) House, from 2008 until her death in 2016; and his third wife, Deana (Walker) House (who survives him), from 2019 until his death.

 Also surviving him are his two sons, Joel E. House (Cindy) of Northville, Michigan, and Jeffery C. House (Cynthia) of Auburn, Indiana, and his son-in-law, R. David Lancaster, of McKenzie, Tennessee. His daughter, Barbara L. (David) Lancaster preceded him in death in 2016. He had 13 grandchildren, and 31 great grandchildren. 

Mr. House was a welder by trade, having worked for many years, predominantly for General Motors (Detroit Diesel Allison Division) in Detroit, Michigan, as well as Action Engineering in Knoxville, Tennessee, and other welding related shops. He was an outstanding welder and fabricator, not only in his younger “career” days, but even into his elderly years, as he was able.

 He served in various church ministry positions including junior high youth leader, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, and deacon. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Martin, attending faithfully until his health prohibited such. 

Mr. House loved helping anyone he could with his welding skills by repairing the broken items they would bring to him. He was an avid John Wayne fan, collecting much of his memorabilia and movies. His favorite John Wayne phrases were “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do!” and “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!” 

Other favorite saying were: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” and “Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Things done in halves is never done right!” He loved to tinker in his garage, restore things, and did his own yardwork (up until this past year). He also enjoyed owning three Volkswagen beetles, the last of which was an orange, 1973, Beetle, which he proudly drove in local parades. He was also proud to have graduated from the Martin Police Department’s Civilian Police Academy. 

Mr. House loved to play the marble board game “Aggravation,” as well as play his steel guitar, while singing and recording many country artists “cover” songs. He also, for many years, thoroughly enjoyed all his extended family coming home to visit him, particularly at Christmas time. His humor was enjoyed by all -- and children, in particular, loved him very much. 

His favorite color was red, as evidence by the many things he owned of that color. His mantra often heard quoted by him was, “Red for Fred!”

 Mr. House had a strong “can-do” and “get ‘er done” attitude and life philosophy. He worked hard, played hard, and (until his body finally caught up to his age) had two speeds- fast and faster! He was a fine, conservative, Christian man, who loved the Lord, was a faithful husband, wonderful father, and loving grandfather and great grandfather, who was affectionately known to the family simply as “Papa.”

 Finally, the family wishes to thank and acknowledge the staffs of Cane Creek Rehab Center in Martin, The Waters of Union City, VanAyer Nursing Home in Martin, and Tennessee Quality Hospice of Martin for their kindness and care of “Mr. Fred.”

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm at Murphy Funeral Home on May 30, 2025. Visitation will be held on Friday May 30, 2025, beginning at 11:00am until the hour of service at Murphy Funeral Home.

Murphy Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.