In World War II he was a Navy fighter pilot, flying a Hellcat off the aircraft carrier Intrepid. Later, in civilian life, he was an industrial engineer at DuPont for his entire career, and a church and lay chorister and musician.
At the time of his death Fred was survived by his wife, Betty; children Frederick Jr. and Elizabeth; stepchildren David, Mike, Linda, and Tina; foster daughter Sherry Jackson; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother Richard.