ECHO COMMUNITY…Mr. Frederick Densel (1st Sergeant, United States Army, Retired), a resident of the Echo Community, died late Monday morning, September 8, 2025, at his home. He was 80.
Funeral services, with full military honors, will be held at 1:30 P.M. Monday, September 15, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Charles Goldsmith officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Densel was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to Floyd and Ruth Densel, and from the very beginning, he carried with him a quiet strength and a deep sense of duty. He joined the United States Army at a young age, stepping into a life of service that would take him across the country and around the world. Through years of dedication and sacrifice, he rose to the rank of 1st Sergeant—a title that spoke to his leadership, discipline, and unwavering commitment to those he served alongside.
After retiring from the military, Mr. Densel found a new home in the Echo Community in 1978. It was there that he planted roots and built a life filled with purpose and peace. He went back to school and earned a degree in Small Engine Repair from Wallace Community College—a testament to his belief in hard work and always learning something new.
Outside of his career, Mr. Densel was a man who truly knew how to enjoy life. He loved the outdoors—whether he was out hunting in the woods, casting a line into the water, or feeling the wind on his face while riding his motorcycle. These were the moments that brought him joy, the simple pleasures that reminded him of the beauty in everyday living.
Faith was a guiding light for Mr. Densel. As a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, he found comfort and community, and he carried those values with him in how he treated others—with kindness, humility, and respect.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Earl James Densel, and of course, by his beloved parents. Though he experienced loss, Mr. Densel never lost his sense of gratitude or his love for life. He was the kind of person who made you feel welcome, who listened more than he spoke, and who lived with quiet dignity.
His story is one of service, strength, and simple joys. He will be remembered not just for what he did, but for the way he lived—with heart, honor, and a deep love for the people and places that shaped him.
Surviving relatives include his wife of sixty-one years, Doris Hester Densel, Echo Community; three sons, Frederick Lloyd Densel (Dawn), Earl J. Densel (Susie), all of Echo and Darrell Densel (Terra), Jacksonville, Alabama; five sisters, Marian Gentry, Hot Springs, North Carolina, Patricia Snyder, Kathy Happel (Bud), Ruth Ann Booth, and Charlotte Schaffer (Rick), all of Michigan; brother, Doug Densel, Edwin, Alabama; grandchildren, Meaghan Watkins (Tyler), Brittany Thompson, William Warren (Lacy), Amber Warren, Travis Densel, Miranda Densel, Summer Densel, and Dalton Densel; thirteen great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
