Frederick "Fred" W. Benedict, 81, of Union City, OH, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2011, at the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio. He was a Brethren historian, printer, and writer who headed the Brethren Encyclopedia Project (www.brethrenencyclopedia.org) until a few years ago when the current president, Robert Lehigh, succeeded him. He was one of the originators of the Brethren Heritage Center and served as the first Chair of its Board of Directors. He was also a prolific writer of articles published in numerous periodicals, and publisher of "Old Order Notes" and "Quest." He was born January 16, 1930, in Waynesboro, PA, to Louis & Martha (Stoner) Benedict. Soon after graduating from Quincy High School, PA he moved to Madison County, Indiana (his mother's home locale), where he and his wife spent several years as part of the Beech Grove OGBB congregation. Later they moved to the Union City, Ohio area where they were members of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, Shady Grove District. He is survived by his wife Reva (Bowman) Benedict; two sons and two daughters, 14 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, two brothers and five sisters. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, February 24, at the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, 6360 Farrington Rd, Covington, Ohio. Interment will follow at Sugar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held 3-5 and 6-8 PM Wednesday, at Jackson-Sarver Funeral Home, 10 S. High Street, Covington, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Brethren Heritage Center, Brookville, or State of the Heart Hospice. -- __________________________ James Shuman, Co-Moderator [email protected] __________________________