Frederick St. Clair Danforth, age 89

Frederick St. Clair Danforth, age 89, of Little Rock, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on December 27, 2024. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on March 17, 1935 to the late Frederick C. Danforth and Mildred Sibley Danforth.  Fred is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Luetta Smitch Danforth and his parents and stepfather, Rev. Lyman Norris one infant sibling, and one foster daughter.

Fred is survived by his son Frederick Charles, his wife Brenda; daughter Laural Anne Beaty, her husband Ray; son Daniel Jordan, his wife Valerie; half-brother Timothy Norris; half-brother John Norris; seven grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Fred dedicated his life to serving Christ.  Rev. Dr. Frederick Danforth was ordained into the ministry in 1960 at the Prairie Union Baptist Church in Verdon, Nebraska.  He spent the next 20 years in several American Baptist Churches until 1980 when he moved to South Broadway Christian Church to become part of the Christion Church, Disciples of Christ where he worked until 2009.

Fred attended college at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas graduating with a Batchelor of Arts degree in 1956.  He went on to attend the Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas graduating in 1962.  In the 70’s he returned to complete his Doctor of Ministry at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California in 1980.

Rev. Danforth served the Prairie Union Baptist Church; McKinley Park Baptist Church in Omaha; First Baptist Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa; the Baptist-Congregational Church in York, Nebraska; First Baptist Church in Torrington, Wyoming; Broadway Baptist Church in Denver; South Broadway Christian Church in Denver; First Christian Church in Grand Junction, Colorado; and First Christian Church in Nevada, Iowa.  In the summer of 2000 Dr. Danforth retired from full-time ministry and relocated to Arizona where he proceeded to serve as an interim minister in churches in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona until 2009 when he fully retired from the pulpit and moved to Mineral Wells, Texas to live near his oldest son, Fred.  And then in 2016 they moved with their son Fred and his wife Brenda to Little Rock, Arkansas where they all lived together in a home they built until his death.  In Little Rock Fred and Luetta became active members at First Christian Church for their final years.

Music was always a part of Fred’s life and ministry, he was known for his strong tenor voice and was noted for his involvement in his church’s choirs.  He was also known for his special performances of “Sermons in Song” which he presented two or three times a year throughout his years in the ministry.

Fred was also very active in the Rotary International, joining Rotary in mid-1980’s and actively participating through 2023.  He was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and served as the president of his club in Nevada, Iowa from 1998-1999.

Fred and Luetta enjoyed travel and spent the summers with their young family visiting all across north America including most of the continental states.  They continued their travels in retirement expanding to several international locations.  Fred was an avid golfer particularly enjoying playing with his sons and grandsons, and anyone else who would join him on the course.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Christian Church of Little Rock, Arkansas.

A memorial service will be at a future time and location to be announced.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas, 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com