Paul Fritcher

On December 11, 2025, Paul Fritcher passed away peacefully at his home in Fallon, Nevada. Paul was preceded in death by both parents. He leaves behind his wife, Athena, and two children: Richard Fritcher and Alicia Stine. Five grandchildren: Logan, Candice, Abby, Jordan, and Junior. Two stepchildren: Brandon Reidenbach and Jeralynne Reidenbach. Grandchildren: Mason and Taylor. One great-grandchild, Kaycee Adams. He also leaves behind his brother Ron, along with many cousins and friends. 

Paul was born on September 19, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, to Frances Ruffino. At the age of 18, Frances and her newborn son, Paul, moved from Detroit, MI, to Gardena, CA. In 1958, Frances married Joe Fritcher, and 2 years later, they had a second son, Ronald. Around 1963, Paul’s family moved to Lone Pine in the Owens Valley. 

Paul always had an aptitude for mechanical engineering. It started with building his bicycles, and he favored the Schwinn Stingray. In his early teens, Paul also became interested in electronics and assembled many RadioShack projects. This interest stayed with him his entire life up to the point of being a Ham Radio operator. He also liked model trains. 

Paul’s mechanical skills developed into building cars. His car of choice was a ‘65 Mustang, and the engines he favored in these early years were the 289 small block and the 351 Cleveland. His cars got faster over the years. 

His attention to detail and skills led to many years as a helicopter mechanic with a company in Long Beach, CA., which acquired wrecked Hughes 300 training helicopters and reassembled them. Paul was a certified Airframe Mechanic. He could also pilot an airplane. 

His career path led him back to the Owens Valley, where he hired on with a Geothermal company. He started with them when they began building the Coso geothermal power plant. This gave him an encyclopedic knowledge of the workings of a steam plant. Paul could also frame a building. Years later, he transferred within the company to the Dixie Valley plant outside Fallon. 

Paul was an avid hunter. During his teen years, he was introduced to a lifestyle of hunting by horseback, pack train, and several-day camping trips. These were yearly events led by his father into the Sierra Nevada. Later, as Paul settled into Fallon, he maintained that passion for hunting. He and Athena favored hunting in Northern Nevada, where they enjoyed the spectacular scenery and the bounty of game. Paul will be greatly missed.