FRED J. CROCE

93, of Johnston, passed away Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Briarcliff Manor in Johnston. He was the beloved husband of the late Mary J. (Libassi) Croce. He was the devoted father of Susan M. Beaudoin of Johnston, Sandra A. Bowder and her husband Allan of Jamestown and Joanne T. Birkett and her husband Jim of Hope Valley; dear brother of Sam Croce and Ann Severino, both of CA; loving grandfather of four; loving great-grandfather of four; and loving grandfather of the late Robin M. Beaudoin.

Fred was born in 1918 in Danielson, CT where he grew up on the family farm and was taken to school in a wagon drawn by two horses. His family moved to Woonsocket, RI at age 10 and he attended the Providence Trade School where he earned his School Letters as a member of the wrestling team. He then took mechanical engineering classes at the URI Extension in Providence which started him on his career path in the accelerating automobile industry.

Fred's first job was at Waite Auto, an automobile machine shop where he stayed for 23 years after becoming the shop's general manager. This job was interrupted when he joined the U.S. Navy during WW-II as a Machinist Mate rebuilding airplane engines needed for the war. After Waite Auto, he moved on and taught adult automobile training classes in the Warren, RI school system until 1959, when he was hired to be Rhode Island's original automobile inspector for the new RI Motor Vehicle Department's inspection program. In 1962, he left there to take a training specialist position with the Ford Motor Company for the Boston District Office and was quickly promoted to District Service Engineer. In this position he travelled extensively throughout New England and the East Coast providing training classes at Ford service facilities in those areas, and in 1969 he was awarded Ford's prestigious "Best-In-District" award. Throughout this time he was a continuous member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

After retiring in 1976, he enjoyed restoring antique engines in his machine shop where he was able to build many different parts that where no longer available to be acquired. Although he was formally retired, he was constantly helping someone repair a piece of machinery that required a specific part that needed to be built in his continuously running machine shop.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9 a.m. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Cross Church, 645 Hartford Ave., Providence at 10 a.m. Entombment with military honors will be at Our Risen Christ Garden Mausoleum at St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston. VISITING HOURS are Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Odyssey Hospice, 2374 Post Rd., Warwick, RI 02886.

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