Obituary: Montoya, Fred O.
Age 77
Fred was born January 5, 1936, to Epi and Lucy Montoya, in a little house near the small farming and ranching town of Mora, New Mexico.
His family moved from New Mexico when Fred was young and eventually settled in Wenatchee, Washington in 1944.
Fred was the second eldest of 12 children and was very close to his brothers and sisters.
Fred and the three elder siblings began learning to speak English after their move to Wenatchee.
This obstacle seemed to give him an overwhelming determination to succeed in everything he did.
He was an excellent student at Wenatchee High School where he was also a member of the Track team.
He worked locally in orchards and at a grocery store, as well as for the Wenatchee Daily World alongside his brothers Joseph and Jess.
After graduating Wenatchee High School in 1954, Fred served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1959.
After completing his time in the Air Force, Fred returned to Wenatchee, working for the railroad with his brother, Joseph, until attending Wenatchee Valley College where he met his first wife, Patti.
In spite of a college counselor’s recommendation to pursue a trade school diploma, Fred pursued more challenging coursework, graduating at the top of his class.
He went on to complete a degree in Sociology from Eastern Washington State College and an advanced degree in Social Work from University of Washington, excelling in his coursework.
Looking toward further academic challenge, he and his brother, Richard, graduated Gonzaga Law School in 1975.
Fred enjoyed a successful private law practice until Parkinson’s Disease forced his retirement in 2002.
Fred was especially honored by his appointment by Governor Booth Gardner to the Washington State Human Rights Commission serving from 1985 to 1990.
Fred had a passion for photography which began in Korea during his time in the Air Force.
He also enjoyed running, collecting clocks and art, watching basketball and boxing, gardening, country line dancing and fishing with his sons when they were young.
Fred worked hard in every job he held, in each challenge he encountered, including and especially the Parkinson’s Disease.
Fred is survived by his sons Dino (Christina), Kevan (Anne) Montoya of Yakima, WA and Greg, his grandchildren Jessica, Lisa, Daniel, Katelyn and Mark, his mother Lucy, brothers and sisters Lee, Joseph, Nancy, Jesse, Richard, Anthony, Marian, and Angie.
He was preceded in death by his father Epi and brothers Michael, Theodore and Patrick and his first wife Patti.
Fred’s celebration of life service will be held at 11AM, Saturday, February 23, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 625 Elliot Ave S, Wenatchee, WA.
A reception will be held in the school gym after the service.
He will be buried in the Wenatchee Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Fred requested that people donate to the St Vincent De Paul Society or the National Parkinson’s Foundation.