William Seebode Obituary

William Fred Seebode, III SILVER SPRING, MD - William Fred Seebode, III, 67, died of heart failure, at his home in Silver Spring, MD on June 17, 2018. Fred was born in Washington, DC, the son of William Fred Seebode, Jr., and Marie Beller Seebode. He grew up in Rockville, MD where he attended Richard Montgomery High School, graduating in 1969. Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, he completed officer training graduating in 1973. That June he married Paula Allen Brown and the couple enjoyed forty-five years of marriage, facing everything life sent their way with love and courage. After graduation Fred was stationed in Charleston, on destroyers, holding various posts including CIC officer, ASW officer and Navigator. His ships toured the Mediterranean Sea, the coast of South America, and the Caribbean. The couple lived in Summerville, SC. In 1978, Fred resigned from the Navy and joined North Safety Products, where he worked as a research and development engineer, then manager, for the next 30 years. A talented designer, builder and inventor, Fred developed new products and enhanced existing ones. He traveled extensively and set up factories in Mexico and China. He became head of R&D at North Safety, and was on the team which won a major industry award for designing self-repairing safety equipment for use in highly toxic, radioactive applications. In these years, the couple weathered Hurricane Hugo, renovated their century-old house, enjoyed hiking trips to many National and State parks, and went bare-boat sailing in the British and American Virgin Islands. Fred was active at St. John The Beloved Catholic Church in Summerville. He was a tenor in the choir and rose to Grand Knight in Council 6629 of the Knights of Columbus. In 2008 he retired, and after his health declined, he and Paula moved back to Maryland in 2012, to be closer to family. He was active in the governance of his community, Leisure World, serving on the board of his mutual and on the Community Planning Advisory Committee. Although Fred suffered for many years from a chronic, debilitating disease, he never complained, but always adapted, always had faith and hope, and always devised ways to continue to participate to the fullest in life. He was a gifted problem solver and a quietly strong positive force in this world. He is survived by his wife, Paula, his sister, Patricia Downes, his sister, Nancy Rubin (Rob) and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15663 Norbeck Blvd, Silver Spring, MD, on August 25, 2018 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or The Myositis Association ([email protected]) will be appreciated. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston