Obituary of Fred Troutman

Fred W. Troutman, born July 11, 1931, passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side on April 14, 2026, joining his wife Lucille in Heaven. They were married for 65 years. He is survived by daughter Lisa, daughter Jennifer (John), and son Greg (Cori). He is also survived by grandchildren Rachel (Myles), Stuart (Michelle), Abigail, and Leah and by great-grandchildren Myles, Brayden, Audra, and Kristin. Fred was the son of Fred M. and Effie (Turpin) Troutman, a tenant farmer. He was born on the farm near Joppa, a small community in Adair County, Kentucky. His youngest sister Ada is his only surviving sibling. He was preceded in death by his brothers Edgar, Robert, and James and his sister Mary. In high school he joined the Future Farmers of America (FFA), which had a big influence on his life. It was in FFA that he acquired public speaking skills which had a maturing effect on him, and improving those skills, he won many blue ribbons for his speeches. As his many friends and colleagues can attest, he could speak at length on any subject. His children laugh when they say “He would say 'Just briefly…' although it never was!” He attended Lindsey Wilson College, completing his associate degree, and then enrolled in Transylvania University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Inspired in sixth grade with the idea of Journalism as a profession, Fred used that interest to pursue a Journalism curriculum at Transylvania. He became editor of the campus newspaper and was given an assistantship in the university public relations office, where he became responsible for university press releases for the Lexington Herald Leader. Following graduation from Transylvania, Fred was drafted into the Army and was trained to be a clerk-typist. He was sent overseas to Okinawa where he became a quartermaster specialist. Upon completion of his tour of duty and return to Adair County, he was asked by the school superintendent to teach history for a teacher who had become ill. He taught history and was assigned as faculty sponsor for the senior class. Being asked to stay on, he taught there for another year, which is where he met his future wife Lucille. However, Fred decided to pursue his ideal of becoming a journalist and enrolled in the University of Missouri to earn a Master’s degree in Journalism, specializing in Small Town Newspaper Management. As a graduate student, he worked first as a reporter, and then as an editorial assistant for the school newspaper. Returning to Kentucky, he was hired as the managing editor of the Glasgow Daily Times. He decided to come to Frankfort to work for Kentucky state government where he did press releases and worked with the print media and television press corps. During his many years in state government, he worked for the State Commissioner of Agriculture, the Council on Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce and the State Attorney General. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Frankfort, twice serving as club president and as the Lieutenant Governor of Division 10. During this time he also was editor of the KT Notes for 10 years. He also served on the Human and Spiritual Values Committee. A elder at First Christian Church, Fred also served as the Chaplain of American Legion Post 7, Frankfort, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6097, Columbia. He was a past member of the Red Cross Board, the CASA Board, and a 20-year member of the Fire Department / Police Department / Civil Service Board. Visitation will be held at Rogers Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 21st from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 22nd at 11:00 am, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Bluegrass Care Navigators for their compassionate care during this time. Contributions in Fred's memory are suggested to the Frankfort Kiwanis Foundation, P.O. Box 877, Frankfort, KY 40602.