Frederick Borries Bywater

Frederick Borries "Ted" Bywater finished his mission and went to his glory on December 15, 2023 at the age of 84.

Ted was born on January 29, 1939 in Teaneck, New Jersey. After his dad died in 1947, Ted took his first job selling the afternoon paper to help pay for groceries. This began a working youth that included jobs such as a janitor, grocery bag boy, paper delivery boy, miner, warehouse clerk, carpenter, yard man, babysitter, and lab assistant.

He graduated from Lakeland High School in 1957 and then from Georgia Tech as one of the Top 10 Graduates of 1961. In his last semester of college, he met his future wife, Mary Wayne Crymes, whom he married in December 1961. He then served in the army in Korea for 2 years before entering the real estate business in 1969 with the legendary Trammel Crow.

In 1971 he co-founded Bradley, Young, and Bywater Properties. At the end of 1976, like most real estate development companies of the time, it fell on extremely hard times. During this financial suffering, he hit rock bottom and gave his life to Jesus Christ. This life change resulted in Ted making many mission trips and teaching Sunday school and leading Bible study in the Orange County jail. Anyone who knew him after this time knew him to be a very strong man of faith.

After Ted closed his first major real estate deal, he used the commission to start The Bywater Company in June 1977. After 25 years in business, he sold the business to his son Bill, for whom he worked until the very end.

He received many honors and awards throughout his career, including the Central Florida Chapter of NAIOP's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

The joy of his life was Mary Wayne his wife for almost 62 years. They were blessed with three children: Rick (Yvonne) Bywater, North Carolina; Bill (Lisa) Bywater, Orlando; and Leslie (Todd) Bishop, Jacksonville, and 10 grandchildren, Andrew, Jordan, Cameron, Cooper, Jay, Sallie Jane, Clara, Benjamin, Boone and Beau, and 3 great grandchildren, Arthur, Hugh, and Ellie Mae. He is survived by three siblings Spike (Becky) Bywater of Lakeland, John (Melodee) Herndon of Lakeland, and Dee (Fred) Oeters of Lakeland and many nieces and nephews.

The greatest pleasure of his life was traveling with his family, which he and Mary Wayne started when the kids were little. He relished visiting many of the beautiful sites created by God and man.

His proudest accomplishments were not the buildings he built or the properties he sold but the lives he touched. He felt like he was the luckiest man who ever lived, and if he had to do it over again, he would not change anything. He thought life was a thrilling ride.

The celebration of his life will be held at the Downtown Baptist church Wednesday, December 20 at 11am. The family asks in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Christian Service Center or Downtown Baptist Orlando.