Fredrick Lauren Toles

On February 3, 2025 we said goodbye to our Father, Husband, Brother, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, Uncle, Cousin, and Friend, Fredrick Lauren Toles. Fred was born in Colorado Springs on December 26, 1939. He was the 2nd of the identical twin boys of Ruth (Knull) and Watson Toles. Fred and Frank, the twins, were a novelty and always had that special twin relationship that included their own twin language conversations, often concluding with the twins giggling away. Many times they were joined by their beloved cousin, Elaine, making their group a trio. The Toles family expanded by another set of twins and a daughter and lived in Colorado until 1955 when they moved to Yakima, Washington to join their grandparents. He graduated from Yakima High School at age 17 in 1957. After graduating from High School he joined the Navy along with his brother, following in the footsteps of their father who also served in the Navy. During his service he received electronics training. When he completed his military service he returned to Washington and got an apartment with his siblings in Seattle, hoping to get a job with Boeing. His parents and younger sister also moved to Seattle. While in Seattle he met Mary Lou Hunter and was hired by Boeing. He and Mary Lou married in 1963. His first assignment with Boeing was in Minot, North Dakota, during this time they had their son Kevin and moved to Santa Maria, CA in 1965. He worked on Vandenberg Air Force Base for his entire career, first for Boeing, Applied Magnetics, Rockwell, and Lockheed Martin. Fred and Mary Lou added two girls Lorrie and Kristi to the family. They amicably divorced in 1983. Fred met and married Lora Lester in 1986. The family expanded with her two adult daughters Julie and Suzy and young son Greg. He retired in 2005 and shortly thereafter moved to Coarsegold to enjoy a more rural life.

Fred was known for his red hair, full beard, dry sense of humor, easy smile, and sparkling blue eyes. He was a member of the Elk’s club and had an amateur radio license. He enjoyed music from country western to jazz, listening to audio books, spending time with his family, and talking to his twin on Skype every night. He was a man of few words but when he did talk it was important. He liked tinkering with electronics and was known to have the latest gadget.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Watson, brother Carl, sister Carol, and daughter Lorrie. He is survived by his children Kristi (J.D.) and Kevin, granddaughters Sabrina and Melissa; wife Lora her children Julie (Eddie), Suzy, and Greg (Phyllis), multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings Frank (Carol) and Ann (Ron); numerous nieces and nephews.

Fred was a wonderful person who could be prickly but had a heart of gold. We are glad that he is at peace but will miss him everyday. It is not a goodbye but a see you later and to quote Fred and Frank’s nightly sign off "Dasvidaniya!"

A Celebration of Life will be held in Santa Maria on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Maramote Park, 620 E. Sunrise Drive, Santa Maria, CA. Please bring your stories and memories of Fred to share.