Lieutenant Colonel Fred Lamar Covington, 79, passed away on January 31, 2015. Colonel Covington was a 20-year veteran of the United States’ Air Force, serving as a Senior Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) and Systems’ Management Engineer. During his military career he served in the Vietnam War from 1972 to 1973, where he completed 43 combat missions in the F-105 Wild Weasel, for a total of 128 combat flight hours.
Fred Covington was born on April 23, 1935 in Ariton, Alabama to John Dixon and Ethel Covington. Upon his graduation from Auburn University, in 1958, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; his first duty station.
A natural mathematician, scientist, and engineer, he worked for 18 years as a science teacher in the Henry County School System after his military retirement. Since 1978 he was an active member at Rockdale Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and volunteer with the Bold Mission Builders.
Fred was a life-long follower of Jesus Christ, as well as a distinguished and decorated military officer; in addition to being a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He married Dotti Covington in Montgomery, Alabama in 1958. He is survived by his wife Dotti and children, Amy; Tim, his wife Jessica; Tom, his wife Holly, and Andrew, his wife Mollie, and his seven grandchildren: Stephen, Rebekah, Drew, Townes, Joshua, Emma Grace, and Emilie. He is also survived by his sister, Sara Nell Young and brother, Robert Covington and preceded in death by his mother and father as well as his brother, James Covington.
A celebration of life will take place at Rockdale Baptist Church in Conyers on Feb. 7, 2015 at 11 a.m., with visitation taking place from 9-11:00 a.m. The service will be officiated by Rev. Tom Covington and Rev. Andrew Covington. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The National Parkinson’s Foundation at gift processing center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or the Georgia Humane Society at 981 Howell Mill Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30318.
