Fred Edwin Furnish's Obituary
Fred E Furnish, 96, passed away October 29, 2025. Services will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday (11-04-2025) at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home with visitation one hour before the service. The burial will be in Graceland Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard.
Fred was born on July 3, 1929, in Decatur on his parents' wedding anniversary. He was the son of Fred E and Alice R Smith Furnish. He was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War, serving on the Destroyer USS STICKELL DD888. He graduated from Stephen Decatur High School, Navy Engineering School, and The National Radio and TV Institute.
Upon discharge from the Navy, he worked for 8 years at Frazier Vending Service before joining General Electric Co. in 1960. He held various positions at General Electric before being assigned to manage the initial building and operation of General Electric Cablevision in Decatur in 1971, and later working for the succeeding Cable companies of United Artists, and Tele Communications Inc. He retired in December of 1996 after managing the Decatur Cable System for 25 years. He was President of the Illinois/Indiana Cable TV Association in 1977/1988, and served on the Board of Directors of the IL/IN Cable TV Association for 23 years. He was known to be a pioneer in the Cable Television industry. Fred was a member of the Decatur Noon Lions Club from 1972 until 2015, and served as President of the Lions Club in 1988. He was a life member of the Stephen Decatur Masonic Lodge #979 AF & AM, Zohak Grotto, and the Korean War Veterans Association. He served on the Decatur Memorial Hospital Institutional Review Board from 1999 to 2005. He served on the Macon County Honor Guard as Chaplin from 2004 until 2014. He was a founding member of Emmanual Methodist Church, serving as Financial Chairman for many years.
Fred married Janet Frazier on September 2, 1951. He called her “My Sweetie” and she passed away in 2020 after 69 years of marriage. Surviving are his children, Kent and Sherry; grandchildren Heather, Ryan, and Cynda; great grandchildren Dylan, Tyler, Trevor, Colby, Brady, Max, and Caitlyn; sisters Judy and Linda.
Along with his wife, he was preceded in death by infant daughter Lori Diane, Granddaughter Brandi, Great Granddaughter Hadley, and Sisters Bernice, Joan, and Margaret.
Thank you to Randall Residence, Beth, Robyn, Val, Debra, Gary, Laura, Angie, and countless others there, who made his last years enjoyable. He felt loved and loved you all.
Fred was many things in his lifetime, but the greatest thing of all he cherished, was his family. He loved being a Husband, Dad, Grandfather, Uncle, and all the ones he fondly took on as honorary family. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter and love that we hope to be able to live up to.
In lieu of flowers, please send a memorial to the Macon County Honor Guard in Fred’s name.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Homes https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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