An Economic Development Authority member died Sunday in the hospital after battling a short illness.

Fritz Skeeter, a Suffolk native, had served on the EDA’s Cypress borough seat since May 2011. He was the son of Aubrey Skeeter and Lorraine Skeeter, a School Board member.

“We were honored to have him serve with us,” said J. Harold Faulk, the chair of the Economic Development Authority. “He conducted himself in a very positive manner as well as professional, and he always had the interests of the city at heart.”

Skeeter was a 1979 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and was employed as an engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding. He was a member of the Mt. Ararat Christian Church, where he served on several choirs and ministries, and was a past president of the Suffolk Kiwanis Club.

Lorraine Skeeter said her son’s death has been hard, but many people had shown their love.

“We’ve had so many calls from so many people,” she said. “People saw something in him. There’s always a person with that kind of sweetness. They were just crazy about Fritz.”

Besides his parents, Skeeter leaves behind a wife and son, one sister and many other family members. Viewing is set for Friday at Crocker Funeral Home, with a funeral Saturday at Mt. Ararat Christian Church.