March 3, 1931 ~ March 15, 2016
Chester Henry Fast, “Chet” was born the second of eight children to Rudy and Emma Fast on a farm outside of Medford, Oklahoma on March 3, 1931. He left this earth on March 15, 2016 to be with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Chet spent his youth on the farm and worked with his Grandpa Henry Neumann and a few of his uncles as a farmhand. The family eventually moved to Caldwell, Kansas where he attended the public schools graduating from Caldwell High School with the class of 1949. Not long after graduation, he joined the Navy in 1950 and was soon thereafter assigned to The Currier, a Destroyer Escort ship. His shipboard duties found him in the engine room where he displayed the engine repair skills of his dad, Rudy. Chet was a proud veteran of the Korean War during his years of service and was thereafter honorably discharged from the Navy in 1954.
After his service to his country, Chet began a career in the tractor and then auto repair service industry. Those repair skills eventually landed him in Ponca City, Oklahoma where he met his partner in life for 53 years, his wife Freda, or as he lovingly referred to her his “Freedy”. Following their wedding in October 1962, they immediately headed off to Texas to begin their new lives together. Based on the promise of a new job at a large automotive dealership, a borrowed Texaco gas credit card and a $20.00 bill, the “Abraham and Sarah” of the Texas Fast Family clan was started in the Dallas area.
Chet worked in the automotive industry his entire career rising to the position of Service Manager for the last several years preceding his retirement in 1996. He and Freda spent many of their early retirement winters soaking in the sun in far south Texas. They enjoyed playing cards, dancing the jitterbug and occasionally beating up on some unsuspecting couple in a game of table shuffleboard. And it would be remiss not to mention specifically of Chet’s love of his Dallas Cowboys. A loyalty that infected many a family member but none more fervently than nephews Russ and Ryan Sturm.
Chet was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Emma Fast; his older sister Betty Janzen; a younger brother RJ Fast; numerous aunts and uncles. Chet is survived by his wife of 53 years, Freda Fast, of Mansfield, Texas; sons Ron Fast and his wife Margaret of Garland, Texas; Gerald Fast and wife Katie of Ft. Worth, Texas; daughter Sherry Calverly and husband Kirk of Terrell, Texas; and son Lance Fast of Arlington, Texas; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; sisters Norma White, Carol Rader and Karen Sturm all of Caldwell, Kansas, brothers Lee Fast of Mulvane, Kansas and Randy Fast of Carrollton, Texas; and aunts Clara Neumann, Genivieve Neumann and Virginia Fitch; and too many loving nephews, nieces and cousin to name individually.
Chet will be honored with full military honors in Dallas, Texas at a date yet to be determined.
“Well done good and faithful servant”
A memorial service will be held in Caldwell at 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 18, 2016 at the United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be given in memory of Chet to the CHS Alumni Association in care of the mortuary.
Leave Condolences
Condolences
Words can't express the
Don Herbert - 03/16/2016
Words can't express the feeling of loss not only for myself but countless others who have been fortunate enough to know Chet and the entire Fast family at some point in their lives. What a pleasure to have shared so many great times with such a great man. RIP my friend.
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Prayer's for the Fast family
Larry & Yvonne Hess - 03/16/2016
Prayer's for the Fast family at this time, R.I.P. Chet.
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So sorry to learn that Chet
Roger and Dixie... - 03/17/2016
So sorry to learn that Chet has passed. He will be missed by many who knew him. Prayers for all the family. One memory I have is when Chet came home to visit one time he took his sister Carol and I to the drive-in. We couldn't drive yet. We had a good time. RIP in Chet
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Chet, God be with you until we meet again.
Don Hilton - 03/17/2016
Chet was a good Friend and Classmate in our CHS Class of 1949. I remember Football, Basketball, Boys Club and the Classes we were in together. Those were great times growing up. Chet will be missed by everyone that ever knew him.
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Grandpa Chet will be greatly missed!
Stephanie Fast-Word - 03/22/2016
As the oldest grandchild of Chet and Freda Fast I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear, sweet Grandpa Chet! I have some of the fondest childhood memories thank to him for! From learning to fish at the lake on summer days he spent with us Grand kids to learning to catch baseballs at Rangers games. He was the most genuine and loving man I've ever known.
I am ever so happy I got to see him days before he went to his heavenly home! He will be greatly missed!
Stephanie Fast-Word
