Los Banos Enterprise [Los Banos, CA]
July 28, 1933

FRANK PFITZER, PIONEER, IS DEAD

Frank Pfitzer, said to be the oldest pioneer of the Los Banos community, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. L. Menjoulet at Volta, Monday night at 10:20. He had been in failing health for several weeks, brought on by an accidental fall on the pavement in this city.

Funeral services were conducted at the local Masonic Temple yesterday morning at ten o'clock by officers of Hills Ferry Lodge, F. & A. M., of Newman, headed by Worshipful Master Floyd Pearce. The deceased had been a member of Hills Ferry Lodge for 53 years, joining when he was 21 and never affiliating elsewhere.

Pallbearers were F. J. Arburua, Jack Triglia, B. A. Wilson, F. H. Riedle, Wm. Fahey and Michael Etcheverry. Interment was made in Los Banos cemetery under direction of W. M. Davis, Newman mortician.

Frank Pfitzer was born in Jackson county, Iowa, February 21, 1859, and moved with his parents to the old Central Point near the site of Los Banos in 1863, when he was four years old, and has resided in this community continuously since that time.

On September 19, 1881, he was married to Miss Hester Knight, who passed away on July 19, 1924. The ceremony was performed near Volta at the home of and by Judge Clark who at that time was Justice of the Peace.

Four children survive, and are Clarence J. Pfitzer and Mrs. Mary T. Menjoulet, both of Volta, Mrs. Ruby L. Chappell of Gustine, and Francis H. Pfitzer of San Francisco.

Three brothers and three sisters are left. They are William and Joseph Pfitzer of Gustine, Louis Pfitzer of Oakland, Mrs. Rose Bunker of Gustine, Mrs. Julia McCabe of Berkeley, and Mrs. Clarice Bender of Cincinnati, Ohio. Also six grandchildren survive: Frank C., Frederick J., Maxine and Harry Pfitzer, Henry F., and Marie E. Menjoulet, Hester and William Chappell, and one great grandson, Harvard Pfitzer.

During his long years of residence in this community he devoted his time to farming, going into the general merchandise business at Volta in 1903, retiring from that business two years later.

He served for many years as a trustee of the local high school and was prominent for upwards of 40 years in Republican county politics.