Fred Tapley Upton Jr., 79, of Gilroy, California, died Monday, January 9, 2017, at Regional Medical Center in San Jose after a brief illness. Fred Upton was born on May 29, 1937 in Pownal, Maine to Elizabeth and Fred T. Upton Sr.
He graduated in 1955 from North Yarmouth Academy where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Fred attended the University of Maine before moving to Southern California to finish his college education. Fred Upton was a general contractor in the Bay Area for more than 40 years. He was in the California National Guard and enjoyed being associated with Ducks Unlimited and The Elks Lodge of Gilroy.
His hobbies included golfing, fishing, hunting and antique collecting. He also loved his lottery scratchers and entertaining friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Maureen Upton.
He is survived by his sisters, Elaine VanLieu, Olive Bruins, and Alice Campbell; his four daughters; Michele Rodriguez and husband Bob, Lisa Cortese and husband Jim, Stephanie Gonzales and husband John, Karen Westfield and husband John, and his eight grandchildren; Emily, Abigail, Madalyn, Molly, Benjamin, Ethan, Gavin and Spencer; sister-in-law, Candy Montgomery and husband Art, and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at New Hope Community Church, 8886 Muraoka Drive, Gilroy.
Reception to follow at Sandys Cafe.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (michaeljfox.org)
