Fred spent his childhood in Alabama before graduating from high school in Louisiana. During the summer before his senior year, he joined the Navy Reserve, and volunteered for active duty the following summer after graduating high school.
He served three tours to Vietnam aboard the USS Constellation, where he made a life-changing decision to follow Jesus Christ. After he was discharged, he married Daphne Kay Shirah on June 5, 1970, and followed his calling to ministry, spending 10 years in civilian churches. They were blessed with two children – Rochelle Janice in 1971 and Jay Frederick in 1975.
In 1981, Fred was commissioned as a U.S. Army Chaplain where he spent 25 years, serving in many states and overseas in Germany, Belgium, and Desert Storm. While stationed as the Senior Chaplain at Fort Bliss in 2003, the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in Iraq and later rescued by U.S. Marines. News of their rescue arrived just in time for Fred to proclaim during a televised Easter Sunrise Service that “the greatest news the world ever heard was from a graveyard on a Sunday morning!”
He retired in 2006 in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he found many opportunities to continue ministry to churches, friends, and family. In 2022, he and Daphne moved to Virginia to be with their daughter Shelley, her husband Dave, and their children and grandchildren.
He was an avid runner (completing 20 marathons) and developed his “Soldiers of Light” ministry where he used weight training in Army gyms as a way to disciple and encourage soldiers and families. He loved hunting at his “Dixie Hunting Club” in Louisiana, especially with family members. After retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife and dogs to visit family and see the country in their RV.
However, his main passion from 1970 to the end of his life was devouring the Word of God and sharing it with others. He was known throughout the Army Chaplaincy as a strong leader and mentor to many. He was an exemplary chaplain and loved his fellow chaplains, soldiers, and commanders. It has been said that his actions always seemed to stem from his desire to see others thrive spiritually, personally, and professionally.
His distinguished military service was recognized with the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Navy Commendation medal, three Army Achievement Medals, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, two National Defense Service Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).
Fred was a devout lover and follower of our Savior and Lord and we rejoice that he is now with Him and free from all the physical limitations of this broken world. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Rochelle Hudson, his parents-in-law, Winton and Janice Shirah, and his oldest brother and his wife, Jerry and Diane Hudson.
He is survived by his wife, Daphne Hudson; his siblings Tom (Hellen) Hudson and his sister Suzie (Tom) Jimerson; his sister-in-law Lauri (Larry); his children, Shelley (Dave) Gholson, Jay (Erika) Hudson; his grandchildren, Kaylee (Michael) Payne, Matthew (Molly) Gholson, Hannah (Anthony) Huici, Jailey Hudson, Zachary Gholson, Tyler Hudson, and Isaac Hudson; great-grandchildren, Christian Huici, Amelia Payne, Aubrey Faith Huici, Micah Payne, Nolan Payne, George Huici, William Payne, with another Payne (Ben) on the way; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 8th at Colosse Baptist Church, 23891 King William Rd., West Point, VA 23181 with the funeral service beginning at 11:30 a.m. Interment will take place in the church cemetery.
