Fred N Hunt

Fred was born on April 1, 1941, in Calhoun County, West Virginia to Clarence E. and Lona O. Hunt. The family moved to Akron, Ohio when Fred’s dad took a job with Goodyear Tire Company. Growing up in Akron, Fred attended Garfield High School, and while the family was living on Corice St., it was through a neighbor named Peggy Hammond that Fred met Virginia Darkow. Fred and Virginia would be married in 1960 and would stay that way for over 66 years!

The following year, in 1961, they welcomed their first child, John. Less than a year later, in 1962, their second son, Greg, was born. Their family continued to grow with the arrival of their daughter, Elizabeth, in 1965.

In 1956, IBM launched its pilot assembly lines for electric typewriters. Eight years later, upon graduating from the University of Akron (Sigma Tau Fraternity - National Honor Society for Engineers) with a degree in mechanical engineering, Fred would join IBM as a mechanical engineer.

In the summer of 1967, IBM opened its first major manufacturing campus in Austin, Texas. Fred was offered a position at the new facility and eagerly accepted. His priority was finding a home for Virginia and their young family. He purchased a residential lot in what was then considered northeast Austin and began building the place that would become the center of family life for decades to come.

n August of 1967, Fred, Virginia, and the kids moved into their new home on Bucknell Drive in Austin Texas. What began as a house in a newly developed neighborhood, soon became the place where Fred raised his family, welcomed friends and neighbors, and created a lifetime of memories. For the next 59 years, it remained the home he cherished in the community he proudly called his own.

As his children grew, Fred took the family on many memorable trips to visit relatives in Florida and Ohio. He also led an extended cross-country adventure through the American West, visiting destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and the Redwood Forest. Beyond creating cherished family memories, Fred was instrumental in teaching his children the values, responsibility, and independence that helped them become successful adults.

The kids often joke that Fred waited until they were all out of the house before building a pool at the family home, just to make sure they would keep coming back to visit. If that was his plan, it worked perfectly. Virginia and Fred's home became the gathering place for countless pool parties, family celebrations, and visits with friends. To this day, it remains a place where people love to spend time together.

Anyone who knew Fred knew he could fix ANYTHING! He was always willing to lend a helping hand to family, friends, and neighbors, whether it involved making a repair or helping maintain something.

From cars and bicycles to household repairs, Fred had a solution for every problem. If something was broken, chances are he could fix it. His willingness to help others and his knack for making things work again were just some of the many qualities that made him so admired and loved.

In October 1988, Fred took on what would become his biggest project to date when he purchased an unfinished lake house just west of Burnet, Texas, on Lake Buchanan. The exterior of the home, which was built on stilts, had already been completed. However, the interior of the three-bedroom, two bath house, only consisted of exposed 2x4 framing. Around the same time, he made another purchase that would play a major role in helping create future memories out at the lake house. He bought his very first bass boat.

Over the next several years, finishing the interior of the lake house became the priority on most weekends. With the help of Virginia, his children, and their growing families, the home gradually began to take shape. In 1989, Fred retired from IBM after 25 years of service. For a couple of years afterward, he worked part-time as a consultant, but eventually he retired completely. As a result, the time he spent at the lake house increased well beyond weekends.

More often than not, Fred would head to the lake with only his faithful Golden Retriever, Dandy, by his side. "Dandy Dog," as Fred often called him, was always nearby whenever Fred was around, especially at the lake house. He could always count on Dandy to lay nearby and observe, making sure Fred did everything right!

Once the interior of the home was finished, Fred decided there was still more he could do. He constructed three separate rooms beneath the house. The first was the "Rod Room," dedicated primarily to storing fishing rods and fishing tackle. He also built a storage room that housed all his tools. Over the years, it accumulated everything from pliers, hammers, and screwdrivers to thousands of screws, nuts, and bolts, along with his welding equipment and countless power tools. If a project came up at the lake, chances were good that everything needed to complete it could be found there. Finally, Fred built a separate bathroom beneath the house. It featured a walk-in shower that he hand-tiled himself, complete with a built-in bench seat. Like so many of his projects, it reflected the craftsmanship, determination, and pride he brought to everything he built. He was a perfectionist and never cut corners.

Another of Fred's lifelong passions was fishing. Stories about his early fishing adventures with his dad and his brother, Dock, always brought a smile to his face. When the family purchased the lake house, Fred quickly took on a new mission: teaching his family how to catch fish. He loved the excitement of fishing, and it certainly helped that Virginia knew exactly how to cook the catch!

It wasn't long before everyone wanted to spend time in Fred's boat, especially during the spring white bass run. With patience and enthusiasm, he taught family members and friends everything they needed to know, and before long they were reeling in fish like pros. During those weekends of April, catching 40 to 80 fish was not unusual.

After a few years of fishing on Lake Buchanan and perfecting the craft, Fred always liked to say there were only two lures anyone really needed: "Skitter Pops and Roadrunners." Whether you were an experienced fisherman or just learning, time spent fishing alongside Fred created memories that would last a lifetime.

Some of Fred's favorite pastimes were sharing stories from his childhood and life's adventures with his siblings, usually with anyone willing to listen. Whether he was reminiscing about running the hills of West Virginia, riding (and occasionally crashing) his motorcycle in Akron, or rebuilding that same motorcycle inside his mother "Ma Hunt's" living room because it was too cold to work outside. Fred always had a story to tell. And if Fred and his brother Dock happened to be in the same room, there was little chance anyone else was going to get a word in edgewise. And of course, Fred was also known to share a few legendary "fishing tales" along the way.

As the years passed, Fred's family grew to include seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Often, one or two could be found sitting on Grandpa Hunt's lap, a sight that always filled him with pride and brought a smile to his face. In his later years, Fred enjoyed life's simple pleasures, whether it was watching a good movie on TV or playing one of his favorite games on his iPad. He also loved a good meal, especially when it was shared with family during one of the many gatherings that brought everyone together.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Concho Hearts Hospice. We are especially thankful for his nurse, Michele, and social worker, Mischelle, whose compassion, guidance, and unwavering support helped not only Fred, but also his family through some of life's most difficult moments. A special thank you is extended to his aide, Dimas, whose visits Fred eagerly anticipated and always greeted with excitement. Their kindness, dedication, and care brought comfort, dignity, and peace to Fred and those who loved him.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Virginia “Ginny”. Three children, son John (wife Linda), son Greg (wife, Tamie), daughter Elizabeth (former husband Mark). One sister, Deanna Herrington (husband, Dick). His grandchildren: Amanda Hunt, Stephanie Warner (husband Andy), Chrissy Meriwether (husband Nick), Melissa Chang (husband Sean), Christopher Hunt (wife Lindsay), Amy Aldrich (husband Isaac) and Melanie Martin. Great-grandchildren: Liam Fernald, Luke Warner, Joel Warner, Nathan Warner, Charlotte Warner, Isabel Meriwether, Noelle Hunt, and Lux Chang. Fred is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Ohio and Florida. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Lona Hunt. One brother, Dorsalee (Dock) Hunt, and two sisters, Georgia Hammond and Betty McQuiggan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to one of the following

“Operation Chow Hound”

Operation: Chowhound https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/operation-chowhound-3

“Divine Savior Academy”

https://bngn.blackbaud.school/?id=n2oq3auoxsv#/home/

https://www.divinesavioracademy.com/

“Canine Companions”

https://canine.org/donate/

A visitation will be held at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660, on August 24, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, followed by a funeral service at the same location on August 24, 2026, at 11:30 am, and a committal service at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery, 13700 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660, on August 24, 2026, at 1:00 pm.