Darline Fritz Obituary

Eva Darline (McDevitt) Fritz, who had just celebrated her 102nd birthday, of Princeton, transitioned to her heavenly home on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

She was born May 6, 1923 at Mt. Station, Indiana to Alva Basil McDevitt and Mary Eva (Randolph) McDevitt. She married Lyle Glenn Fritz on February 19, 1944 in Albion, Illinois, celebrating their 51st anniversary before he passed October 11, 1995. Darline, as she was known, was the last surviving member of the Francisco High School class of 1941.

Darline is survived by her two daughters, Susan Kifer (Ray) of Owensville and Patricia Dodge (Larry) of Patoka; six grandchildren, Rachelle Kifer and Darla Hinkel, both of Ft. Branch, Todd Hinkel and Todd Kifer (Julie) both of Princeton, Joshua Dodge of Springfield, IL, Sarah (Dodge) Blankenship of Rogersville, MO, and Andrew Dodge (Bethany) of Rensselaer, IN; step-sister, Nancy Strickland of Oakland City; Nieces Linda (Walt) Tomasik, and Lola Roberts both of Carmel, IN, Delores McDevitt, Oakland City, and step-niece, Karen (Bill) Hinkel of Clinton, IN; 11 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren with the ninth on the way; and numerous cousins.

Darline was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 51 years; brother, James McDevitt; sister, Juanita Steinhoff; step-sisters, Loretta Meadows, Maxine Marshall, Gloria Phillips, and Joy Ott; nephews, Stephen McDevitt, Gary Phillips, and Bill Roberts; and niece, Marsha (McDevitt) Phillips.

She was a member of Francisco Methodist Church for over 80 years, the longest and oldest member of the church. A self-proclaimed ministry of encouragement was sending cards and making phone calls.

Darline worked for a year at Republic in Evansville inspecting 45 caliber primer. She helped her husband farm, volunteered a number of years being a room mother with the PTA, and with the Francisco High School alumni association. She enjoyed a variety of crafts, sewing, knitting, embroidery, and crocheting. She made quilts for all six grandchildren and child sat for the grandkids and great-grands. She also enjoyed reading, playing games such as skipbo, rummikub, dominoes, and doing word search puzzles. For about three years up until last year, there was a continual string of jigsaw puzzles on her card table in the living room. In early years, she sewed for herself, then for Susan and Patricia when she had her "other work done".

In 2019, she decided she wanted to donate her body to the Anatomical Education Program of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Due to medical issues, she was not accepted. Services will be held 12 PM Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Colvin Funeral Home, 425 N. Main St., Princeton with Rev. Rick Lance officiating. Visitation will be 10 AM until service time on Saturday. Burial will be at Montgomery Cemetery in Oakland City, IN.

The family expresses their thanks and appreciation to Senior Helpers for compassionate loving care of Darline, especially Belinda and Tiffany, and the staff of Good Samaritan Home and Rehabilitative Center, and Heart to Heart Hospice for the loving care given her during her last weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice or to the IU Anatomical Education program to support its teaching program. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at ColvinFuneralHome.com where you can share a memory of Darline with the family. Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Fritz family.

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