BLUEFIELD - Frederick M. Hatcher, 82, of 216 Powhatan St., Bluefield, died Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, in a Portsmouth, Ohio, hospital. Born Oct. 7, 1920, in Beckley, he was the son of the late Alvis and Bettie Griffith Hatcher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Aubrey and Robert Hatcher. Mr. Hatcher was a devout member of both First Baptist Church of Bluefield and Beckley. He served as a deacon in both churches in the past as well as serving on several committees, some of which he was chairman. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and a veteran of World War II, having served in Germany as a second lieutenant. In 1947 he began his career with the West Virginia Army National Guard, serving as unit commander of the Bluefield Unit in 1954 and later a commander for the Beckley detachment of the National Guard. In 1961 he was upgraded to active service and served as captain at Fort George Gordon Meade during the Berlin Crisis, and in 1982, Mr. Hatcher retired from the West Virginia National Guard as a chief warrant officer-4. He was admitted as a Distinguished Knight in the Order of St. George for honorable service to Armor and Cavalry. Mr. Hatcher was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Orpha Eanes Hatcher; a daughter, Marsha Joy Cheeks of Bluefield; a granddaughter, Lindsay Noel Cheeks, also of Bluefield; two sisters, Clara Mae Dozier and Betsy Gonzalez, both of Beckley; two brothers John Paul Hatcher of Michigan and Grover Hatcher of Massachusetts; and several nieces and nephews. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Bluefield. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Military graveside rites will be performed by the West Virginia National Guard. Serving the family as pallbearers will be members of the 1st BN 150th Armored Cavalry's Bluefield unit of the West Virginia National Guard with the Truett Sunday School Class serving as honorary pallbearers. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Mercer Funeral Home and Crematory, Bluefield. Arrangements by Mercer Funeral Home and Crematory, Bluefield.