Fred was born in Bakersfield on December 15, 1919 and graduated from Kern County Union High School (1939) and Bakersfield College (1943). During WWII he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was stationed at Williams Field, Arizona as a flight instructor where he met and married his wife of 48 years, Catherine. After the war he attended and graduated from Stanford University in 1947. Fred returned to Bakersfield to work in the family business - Chester Ave Brake & Supply Co. that was started by his father and uncle in 1917. During his business years he was active and served in the 20/30 Club, Westchester Lions, De Molay, International Wine & Food Society, Boy Scouts (as a Troop Leader) and a proud a lifetime member of Rotary International (Downtown branch) with 42 years of perfect attendance. Fred was an avid photographer, pancake maker supreme and a smooth dancer. He also loved to travel and enjoyed a good glass of California wine. In his later years he especially loved his annual trips to Sedona and Lake Tahoe with his very best friend Rosie Lee Koch. He was preceded in death by his wife Catherine in 1992. His surviving family includes his 7 children: Stephen and his wife Mary, Andrea, Paul and his wife Bonnie, Carol, Philip and his wife Cheri, Rita and her husband Ron Geikow and Tom and his wife Kristy; his 11 grandchildren; his sister Dorothee Dary; his brother Donald and his companion of 14 years Rosie Lee Koch. Fred passed away peacefully under hospice care in Arroyo Grande on February 11, 2008. All of his children and Rosie were able to spend his last days with him and never ran out of stories to tell. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Friday February 15th and services at 10 am, Saturday February 16th. Both will be held at Hopson-Anspach Mortuary, 620 Oregon St. Bakersfield, CA. Interment will immediately follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Rd. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to: Rotary Club of Bakersfield, P.O. Box 1628, Bakersfield, CA 93302.