Fred Douglas Acker's Obituary
Douglas Acker
Fred Douglas Acker finally had to let go of the life he had clung to so tenaciously. He died August 14, 2005 at the age of 87. Fred was hard-headed, opinionated, and at times demanding, but his family loved him dearly and will miss him so much. He was born May 28, 1918 in Lamar County, Texas, the seventh child of Henry Alford Acker and Celestia Montine Nowell. Fred was predeceased by his parents, his son, Fred Douglas, Jr., his brothers; Henry , Jack, James, Ralph, Gerald, and Tommy, and his sisters; Kathryn Hardesty, Evelyn Wright, and Dorothy Holder. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ardelle Barlow Acker, son, Ralph Terry and wife, Karen, granddaughters, Lisa and Julie, and great grandchildren; Kayla, Daniel, Zachary and Caydn.
Fred spent most of his childhood in East Texas and graduated from Longview High School. He served in the army during World War II as a staff sergeant training troops in Ft. Bliss. Before and after his military service, he worked in the oil fields of Indiana, Illinois, and West Texas. While living in Odessa, he was a superintendent for J.E. McCain Rig Co., Dale Meyer Trucking Co. and owned Fred Acker Rig Co. Fred supervised the crews that moved drilling equipment from well site to well site. This included skidding upright derricks without dismantling them. He returned to East Texas in the 1970?s where he worked for Dunaway Supply in Longview. Fred lived in the Elderville community and was a member of the Centre Presbyterian Church. At the time of his retirement in 1993, he was working for his nephew, Bill Acker, at Cushpac in Henderson. Fred spent the past seven years in Kingwood, Texas living near the families of his son and grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 11 AM Wednesday, August 17th at Memory Park Cemetery with Pastor
Fred Niles officiating. Family visitation will be Tuesday evening 6 to 8 PM at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd.
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