Richard Douglas Frarie, a Korean War veteran who served in both the Coast Guard and Air Force, died peacefully at home on Aug. 26, 2026 in Goffstown, N.H., surrounded by his wife and his three children. He was 95.

Dick’s twenty-one years in the service included five in the Coast Guard and sixteen in the Air Force. He served aboard a Coast Guard vessel involved in active shelling off the coast of North Korea during the Korean War. In his time with the Air Force Dick was stationed in Morocco, Japan and several states, including Georgia. As a Coastguardsman he helped man the lighthouse station on Block Island, R.I., during one two-year period.

Dick was a radioman in the Coast Guard. As a reward for outstanding work, he sailed with Coast Guard cadets on the Eagle, a three-masted training ship that traveled to Europe, stopping at various ports. When his daughter, Susan, was traveling to Amsterdam Dick advised her to visit the American Hotel and have a beer in its café, a memory he clearly enjoyed. She did.

Richard Douglas Frarie was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on March 23, 1931. His father, Wayne Merrill Frarie, was a stockbroker; his mother, Emma Brokaw (Douglas) Frarie, managed the home. Dick played third string quarterback for Pittsburgh’s South High School football team and recalled trying to tackle Joe Schmidt, future NFL hall of famer with the Detroit Lions, as a “painful” experience. While a football career was not in the cards for Dick, he was a lifelong Steelers fan, constantly waving his “terrible towel.”

As soon as he graduated from high school in 1949 Dick joined the Coast Guard, not bothering to pick up his diploma. A few months before that, he’d ridden a motor scooter almost one thousand miles from Pittsburgh to Florida, just for the adventure.

Dick and Mary Louise (Kohlhase) Frarie married on Oct. 6, 1962 in Greenland, NH, where they were soon joined by Richard and Karen, Dick’s children by a previous marriage. Two other children, Susan, and Michael, were born in the coming years. Like most service families the Fraries moved several times, from Greenland to Omaha, Neb., Falls Church, Va., Bennington, Vt., and finally, Newmarket, NH.

Following his 21 years in the service, Dick opened his own TV repair shop, Blu-Lyne TV, that served the Newmarket community for many years. He often enlisted his wife and children to help lug heavy TVs in wooden cabinets to the basement workshop.

Dick, a hard working man, had his quirks.

As a child of the Great Depression, he paid for everything – houses, cars, college for his children – in cash. After buying a new car three years ago Dick insisted the dealer change the oil before he’d drive it off the lot. Mechanics explained that modern cars no longer used that practice, common in the 1950s. Dick, an intelligent man who clearly understood what the mechanics were saying, nevertheless insisted. The dealer made the unnecessary oil change. Dick delighted in telling the story to anyone who would listen.

There’s also his cemetery plot.

Dick chose cremation. A smaller plot in the cemetery would clearly accommodate the amount of space needed for his and Mary’s ashes. Dick bought an extra-large plot anyway. “I don’t want to be too close to anyone,” he told his family.

Dick was predeceased by his son Richard in 1996 and by his older brother Col. Wayne M. Frarie in 2016.

In addition to his wife, Mary, Dick is survived by his daughters Karen Frarie and Susan Frarie, his son, Michael Frarie; six grandchildren, Taylor Frarie-Walker, Madison Frarie, Grace Frarie, Caitlin Frarie, Tessa Smith Chapman and Aleksa Smith, and one great-granddaughter, Faye Christina Walker.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, beginning at 3:00pm, at Congregational Church, 4 Church Lane, Greenland, NH 03840. Graveside service immediately after at 4:00pm, at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 67 Cemetery Lane, Greenland, NH 03840. Reception at 4:30pm the Parish House, 44 Post Road, Greenland, NH 03840, with light refreshments. The three sites are within a half mile radius of each other. All are welcome to attend any or all the celebrations.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dick’s name to a hospice or veteran’s organization of your choice.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester.

To view Richard's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.