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| Community mourns loss of long-time furniture store owner Fred Vinson |
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7/15/2016
By Brianna White
Advocate summer Intern
Noted as a determined, self-made man by family and friends, Fred Vinson never wanted to be noticed, but was always willing to help others when they needed it most.
Fred, 82, of Hollow Creek Road, Mt. Sterling, passed away from a heart condition Monday, July 4. He was known in the community for operating Vinson & Sons Furniture Store for more than 50 years.
Unlike most, Vinson had an unconventional childhood, living alone in his North Carolina home and taking care of himself after escaping from a foster home at the age of 11.
Vinson’s father, Clarence, was wounded in World War I and passed away from his injuries. Following his father’s death, his mother, Bessie, had nervous breakdowns and spent time in and out of hospitals, leaving Vinson alone. He was taken to a foster home at one point, but decided after a week he didn’t want to stay and escaped back to his home, his wife, Gracie, said.
Having no money because his mother’s attorney handled the income the family farm brought, Vinson decided he wasn’t going to let himself struggle and began working small jobs to get what he needed.
His first job was delivering newspapers on his bike, and, unlike most delivery boys, he made an effort to walk each paper to the door and meet new people. He also took orders from servicemen who’s train stopped at a nearby station and went to Fort Bragg to shine servicemen’s shoes to earn money, Gracie said. He rode his bike from Fayetteville, N.C., to Fort Bragg every day (more than 11 miles one way).
Vinson cooked, cleaned, washed his clothes and continued to go to school while living on his own. Fred even graduated high school in three years so he could go into the Air Force.
Vinson met Gracie while working on a radar site near Owingsville. The couple were married nearly 61 years.
After he was discharged from the Air Force in 1957, receiving the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal for his service, Vinson began working at Barney Millers and attended the University of Kentucky. With an interest in electronics, he later worked for General Electric on the national defense radar system at the air force base in Thule, Greenland. He left that job, however, after he and Gracie had their first son due to concerns about having to travel to other countries or from state to state for work, Gracie said.
Later working in partnership with Smith’s Furniture, Fred bought a building on Maysville Road and started his own business in 1965 with electronics and appliances. After having the store there for 16 years, Fred and Gracie’s three sons, Darrell, Eddie and Delmaine, were just graduating from school or were undecided on what to do, so Vinson began a new business venture.
He bought a bigger property on Brandon Way to expand the store and brought his sons into the business, Vinson & Sons Inc., in 1982. Local residents Rick Burns and Larry Browning also worked for Vinson for years as well as the late Jerry Burns.
Since its opening, Vinson continued his hard work and was well known in Mt. Sterling for his friendliness and generosity.
Aaron Prewitt, also a local businessman, remembers a time when he went to buy a washer and dryer from Vinson, but was tight on money. Prewitt was going to buy the appliances on lay-away, but when he told Vinson he wouldn’t be able to pay a lot, Vinson told him the washer and dryer would be delivered to his house and that he could pay what he could whenever he could.
Laverne Fallen Yates also remembers when Vinson stored the furniture she had bought for her house while it was being worked on. The completion of her house was delayed for nearly four months, but Vinson never accepted a penny for storing her furniture.
Like several others, Gracie said she remembers Fred for his go-getting personality and determination. “Do the best you can to be the best you can be” and “You haven’t failed unless you’ve failed to try” are just some of his phrases she remembers the most.
Gracie also remembers his willingness to help others, like when he noticed a man sleeping on only box springs and gave him a new mattress.
Ed Razor, president of People’s Exchange Bank, noted Fred was a person of integrity and always did what he said he would do. He added he was a true gentleman and made his life and job easier.
Long-time friend Chuck Vice said he thought the world of Vinson and his sons at the store. He said Vinson would do whatever he could for others and was one of the best men in Montgomery County.
A complete obituary for Vinson appeared in the July 7 Advocate.
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