Frederick Ogden

Waynesville, Dr. Frederick Nash Ogden of Waynesville recently passed away peacefully in West Palm Beach, Florida surrounded by his family after a brief illness. Dr. Ogden was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1929, graduated from The Lawrenceville School in Princeton, New Jersey and went on to receive his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he was a track team member excelling in both discus and shot put. He proudly served his country in the US Army in combat in Korea and was chosen to carry the American flag in the Honor Guard of President Eisenhower's 1953 Inaugural Parade. After military service, Dr. Ogden returned to Chapel Hill where he received his doctorate in dentistry and then moved to Waynesville in 1959 where he practiced family dentistry for over 30 years. Dr. Ogden was able to charm and put at ease even the youngest and most anxious dental patient with his wit, warmth, extraordinary talent and gentle nature. His many interests included New Orleans jazz music and culture, motorcycling and playing the trombone. He was inquisitive of all things mechanical, an adventurous chef and an avid reader of history and biographies. Dr. Ogden is fondly remembered by his friends and family as a devout, honest, loyal, faithful and decent man who brought great joy and laughter to all. He was devoted to his wife Mattie Franklin Ogden, son Nash Ogden and wife Tanya, granddaughter Melissa Ogden, nieces Anne Liedtka and Helen Kula, step daughter Suzanne Messer Smith and husband Clint and stepson the late Wallace Messer and his family. A Celebration of Life gathering is planned for Saturday, April 25th from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Wells Events and Reception Center, adjacent to Wells Funeral Home, 296 North Main Street in Waynesville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local church, charity of your choosing or to his daughter's memorial fund, the Melissa Ogden Memorial Award at the Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC.

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