Frederick Edward Rehfeldt, 81, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth.
Memorial Service: 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church; interment to follow service at Greenwood Memorial Park.
Rick was born December 31, 1943, at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, to the late Frederick Cooper Rehfeldt, M.D., and Ethel Bennett Rehfeldt. Rick attended elementary school at Arlington Heights, middle school at WC Stripling, and high school at Sewanee Military Academy in Tennessee. He went on to graduate from the Citadel in 1966. At the Citadel, Rick was in Lima Company in the 3rd Battalion. He was eventually promoted to the rank of cadet major, 3rd Battalion Executive Officer. He was also a record-setting champion swimmer while at SMA and the Citadel. Butterfly was his prime stroke. In 1969, he received his law degree from SMU and went on to practice law in Fort Worth. In that same year, he met the love of his life, Candy Dransfield, and married her on August 2.
Anyone who crossed paths with Rick knew that he was very proud of his Fort Worth roots and that he loved genealogy and golf. His maternal great-grandfather, George Ellis Bennett, founded the Acme Brick Company in 1891, which grew and expanded under his grandfather, Walter R. Bennett. He loved telling stories about his other maternal great-grandfather, Citadel cadet B.C. Evans. Mr. Evans operated the largest dry goods store west of the Mississippi River, in Fort Worth. In 1876, Mr. Evans opened Evans Hall, an opera house, at the corner of First and Houston. Rick’s maternal second great-grandfather, H.G. Hendricks, a prominent pioneer lawyer, came to Fort Worth before the Civil War and played a critical role in bringing the railroad to Fort Worth in 1876.
Rick is survived by his wife of 55 years, Candy; his three daughters, Whitney Rehfeldt Langdon (Clay), Anne Rehfeldt Maddox, and Mary Rehfeldt Franklin (Haden); seven granddaughters; one grandson; and his sister, Ethel DeMarr. Rick was faithful and devoted to his family and to his church, St. Andrew’s Anglican. He will truly be missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Rick’s name to one of the following: St. Andrew’s Anglican Church or The Citadel Foundation.