Frederick Robertson Jarratt

JARRATT, Frederick Robertson, of Richmond, VA, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2023. He was born on Flag Day in 1925. Fred was blessed with good health -- living to the age of 98. He was a kind and considerate gentleman, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather – loved and respected by all who knew him.

Fred was a proud World War II veteran, serving on the USS Cabot (CVL-28), an aircraft carrier that fought in many battles in the Pacific Ocean. After passing the U.S. Navy’s “Eddy Test,” a rigorous mathematics and physics exam, Fred qualified for the Navy’s Elementary Electricity & Radio Material School. He earned the rank of Electronic Technician’s Mate 2nd Class (ETM2C.)

Prior to his military service, Fred attended Stony Creek High School and was student body president during his senior year. He graduated in 1943 and enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech).  His college years were interrupted when he was drafted into the Navy.  Fred returned to VPI after WW II ended and graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1949.

The skills Fred learned onboard the USS Cabot and while at Virginia Tech led to his accomplished career as an electrical engineer for the Virginia Electric & Power Company (now Dominion Energy). He designed multiple electrical substations supporting the state power grid, including projects at the Surry, North Anna and Bath County power generating facilities.

In addition to his engineering career, Fred served as a Director for the Bank of Southside Virginia, Carson, VA. He was a life-long member of the Virginia Forestry Association (including two terms as a Director), the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the USS Cabot Veterans Association. He was also a member of Willow Oaks Country Club and Reveille United Methodist Church in Richmond.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Page Scarborough Jarratt.  They started dating in college and were married for 62 years until her passing in 2015. Fred was also preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Hattie Jarratt, his sister, Katherine Jarratt, his brother William Jarratt IV (all of Stony Creek); and his oldest son, Gordon Jarratt, of Oak Hill, VA.

Fred is survived by his son, Benjamin Jarratt II & his wife, Mary; his daughter, Helen Sue Jarratt Agee & her husband, Charlie; his daughter-in-law, Carolyn Jarratt; four grandsons, Colin Jarratt; Marshall Agee & his wife, Caroline; Tyler Agee & his wife, Lauren; Patrick Quinn & his fiancé Tatum Johnson; three granddaughters, Jessica Jarratt; Brigid Quinn & her husband, Zach Spradlin; Caitlin Brady & her husband, Conor; and four great-grandchildren, Beckett Agee, Katherine Page Agee, Wynn Brady and Grace Brady.

Family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Owen Funeral Home, 303 S. Halifax Road, Jarratt, VA. Graveside services with full military honors will follow under the magnolia tree at the Jarratt Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation, 3808 Augusta Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230.  Home (vfef.net)  Online donations to the VFEF can also be made at https://bit.ly/FredJarratt .  Rest Easy, Sailor.