Frederick Armit Tetor III

Frederick Armit Tetor III, 78, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Patricia Haselden Tetor entered into eternal rest Sunday, October 22, 2023. His Funeral Service will be held Friday, October 27, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant, 681 McCants Dr. at 11:00 am. Interment to follow in Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Rd. The family will receive friends Thursday, October 26, 2023 in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mt. Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Rd from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Born August 28, 1945, in Ridgewood, NJ. Entered into eternal rest October 22,2023 after a short battle with brain cancer.

The only child of the late Frederick A. Tetor, Jr. and Elizabeth O’Leahy. He joined the US Navy in 1965 and stationed around the world. He served as a Navy Mine Man in Vietnam. He retired from the USN in October 1972 while stationed in Charleston where his parents soon joined him.

It was in Charleston that he met his wife of 43 years, the late Patricia Ann Haselden of Mount Pleasant. Together they raised their three kids, Huey, Dewey and Louie, playing on the beaches from IOP to Edisto, feeding the bird at the Battery, exploring downtown Charleston’s history, and crabbing at Pitt Street Bridge.

Following his military service, he joined the Mt. Pleasant Police Department serving the citizens from 1972-1975. In 1975 he decided to join the Mount Pleasant Fire Department starting as a firefighter. Over the course of his career, he rose in rank, being named Chief of the department in 1991. During his term he served as the President of the Tri-County Fire Chiefs Association, reorganized the Town of Mt. Pleasant Volunteer Firefighters and served on the Governor's Task Force for Hazardous Materials. In August of 2001 he led the department to be awarded Accredited Agency status by the Commission of Fire Accreditation International. At the time Mount Pleasant Fire Department was the first in the state and fifth in the nation to earn accreditation status. He worked tirelessly and diligently to bring professionalism to the forefront of fire services. He wrote and had passed the SC Carolina Code of Laws; Title 40 Professions and Occupations; Chapter 80 South Carolina Firefighters Employment and Registration Act. This was a very important accomplishment he saw before his retirement.

After retiring from the town, he spent countless hours volunteering with the Friends of the Hunley project. He assisted in research and cataloguing artifacts with the archeological team who became lifelong friends.

When he wasn’t volunteering, he could be found camping in the woods as a member of Secession Camp 4 and the 27th SCV. He enjoyed visiting historical sights and bringing the past to life for student groups.

He is survived by his three children: Tressy Magwood Mellichamp of Mount Pleasant, Jennifer Magwood Ray (Jeremy Ray) of Mount Pleasant, and Ricky Tetor (Tricia Tetor) of Summerville.  grandchildren Matthew Howard (Brady), Morgan Howard, Mackenzie Howard, Elizabeth Tetor, Emily Tetor, Jacob Mellichamp, Savannah Mellichamp, Catherine Mellichamp, Alex Tetor, Reed Tetor and Jenna Tetor.  His sister-in-law,, Elaine Haselden Bozman.  His presence will be greatly missed by his adopted great grand dog Stella who was his constant companion through these last few years.

Memorials may be made to Southern Paws Animal Rescue, www.sparwithus.org/ or to the Friends of the Hunley, www.hunley.org/donate/.

A memorial message may be sent to the family at www.jhenrystuhr.com.