Family will miss Fred’s smile, horrible fire on Colonial claims life

While officials are awaiting positive identification, the family mourns the loss of a friend, father and brother.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene on Colonial Parkway this past Thursday morning, October 6 around 9:23 AM only to find an older trailer home totally engulfed. Sadly, authorities believe Fred Schilling of Devine perished in the fire. Within minutes the entire home was gone
“The home was engulfed when we arrive on scene, and no rescue attempt was possible,” stated Lieutenant Chris Andrews. “Multiple fire departments responded quickly, and were able to keep the fire from spreading to neighboring homes. Unfortunately, a man believed to be 73-year-old Fred Schilling perished in the fire.”
Shilling lived in the home for years on Colonial Parkway across from the cemetery.
According to family members Fred was always helping someone out. He enjoyed telling jokes to make people laugh and stopping to help people in need. Fred was a welder by trade, loved motorcycles and the outdoors, and enjoyed landscaping as well. His smile and kind heart will be missed by those who knew him.
“The Bexar County Fire Marshall was contacted and conducted an investigation, but their report is not available at this time. The remains were transferred to Lockhart, Texas for autopsy and identification,” Andrews said.