Thomas D. Frith Jr.

Retired General District Judge Thomas D. Frith Jr. of Blacksburg died Aug. 17 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was 83.

Judge Frith graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1949, and attended Virginia Tech before entering the U.S. Army in 1952. He served in Korea and, upon completion of his service, received his B.S. in business administration in 1956.

After receiving his law degree from Washington & Lee University in 1959, he returned to Blacksburg to open his own law practice, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, W.O. Frith, who was the sole practicing attorney for many years in Blacksburg.

In 1987, he was named as a general district judge for the 27th Judicial District, later serving as chief district court judge.

As a lawyer, Judge Frith served as town attorney for Blacksburg, as a director of the National Bank of Blacksburg, and as chairman of the Democratic Party for Montgomery County.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bernice Meredith Frith; son, T. Daniel Frith III and wife, Linda, of Roanoke; son, J. Patrick Frith and his wife, Barbara, of Charlotte; son, Eric P. Frith and his wife, Dee, of Blacksburg; and eight grandchildren.