Christine Dent

Olive Christine Fritter Dent joined many beloved family members and friends in heaven on September 22, 2013 surrounded by those who love her.Christine (Chris) was born on September 25, 1921, in Garrisonville, to Enoch Nelson Fritter and Olive Susan Gallahan Fritter. Only three when her mother died, Chris and her siblings were raised by their father and a beloved great-aunt, Barbara Henderson, known as "Aunt Bob." A life-long resident of Stafford County, Chris would tell her family and friends stories of her father's farm, a place where she learned to be a hard-worker and to love the land. Chris graduated from Stafford High School (now the Alvin Bandy School Board) in 1941.Chris met and married her one and only love, Eddie Woodard Dent, and remained his devoted companion for 52 years until his death in 1993. Soon after they married, World War II began, and Eddie began his service in the United States Navy. Chris did her part by being a look-out for enemy planes back home. Friends would also share their gasoline ration tickets so that she could drive her Chevy to meet Eddie in Norfolk when his ship came in.A life-long United Methodist, she loved visiting her childhood church, Ebenezer United Methodist Church at its old site, and continued worshipping at Regester Chapel United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, Ebenezer United Methodist at its present site, and Fredericksburg United Methodist.Chris was a perfectionist at work, performing clerical duties as a civil servant in Quantico for many years, and then as a clerk/typist and office manager for the Stafford Health Department. She loved her co-workers like her family. The only activities that could make her sit still were her beautiful sewing, needlework and crocheting, as well as reading her books and the newspaper. Given a choice, however, Chris would be outside from morning to evening working in her vegetable and flower gardens. A trip to a garden nursery for her was like being in a child in a candy store. Chris wanted one of everything, and how she could make those plants grow! Words cannot describe her energy, her smile and laughter, and her joy in family, friends, flowers and pets.She has joined her husband, Eddie; her father and mother; her cherished sisters, Barbara Duffey and Lucy Myers; and her brother, the Rev. Albert Fritter, in heaven. How happy she must be to see them again!Although sad to lose her, but celebrating her life, are her daughter, Olive Dent Shortridge; son-in-law Lanny Shortridge; and granddaughter Cortney Shackson and husband Mike.The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg.A service will be held at 10am Thursday, Sept. 26 at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.The family asks that expressions of sympathy be made to the church, charity or organization of your choice. If a church can be assisted, an animal helped, or a friend receives a hug and a flower, Chris would have loved that.Chris and her family also thank the staff at Hughes Home Assisted Living who helped us all with their kindness, care and understanding, as well as Chris' Mary Washington Hospital Hospice team.