Fred Ervin Zumwalt

Fred Ervin Zumwalt, 84, of Round Rock, Texas, passed away at home in the loving arms of family on October 23, 2025, after a seven-year courageous battle with stage-four cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Irene Truehardt and John Eustis Zumwalt, his sister and her husband, Johnnye Irene and Frank Thomas Rackley, his brother Thomas Lane Zumwalt, and great-grandson Riggs Allen Dufner.

Born at home on July 31, 1941, in Kingsville, Texas, he was the second child to Margaret and John. Six weeks after Fred’s birth, the Zumwalts moved to Austin, Texas, where the family lived for many years. Fred became an alumnus of McCallum High School, after which he began his career in machining and prototype engineering.

Fred learned the “tools of the trade” from his Uncle Carl Seth, Jr, and worked in various mechanical shops before landing a long-term role at IBM in 1967. There, he spent 30 years developing proprietary machinery and technology, receiving numerous awards and recognitions, and was even granted a patent. He left IBM in 1997 and worked at Eureka Water Probes (Hydrolab Corporation) and then M/D Totco Instrumentation, from which he retired in 2007.

Fred married his high school sweetheart, Martha Preece, in June 1960 and they welcomed two sons, Gary and Greg. Fred’s sons could count on their dad to be at their ballgames, take them camping, and join them in a round of golf. Fred once got a hole-in-one at Butler Pitch and Putt on an outing with the boys (his name is on their Hole in One Wall of Fame). Later in life, Fred loved being a “Grampa” to his two grandchildren, Kendall and Jake.

Fred met his current wife, Phyllis, in 1999 after she and her two young children moved into the house across the street from him. Fred was instantly smitten with Phyllis (and she with him), and they were married on June 29, 2002.

Fred and Phyllis (and her children) loved to travel and vacationed in various parts of the country: Colorado, Wyoming, the Texas Gulf Coast and Big Bend regions. They also traveled on two Caribbean cruises, visited England and Scotland, and made their way up to Alaska to fish, where they brought home over 100lbs of salmon and halibut.

Fred was known for his kindness, gentleness, patience, and mischievous humor. He loved playing practical jokes and had the best one-liners. You could always tell he was up to something by the twinkle in his blue eyes and playful grin. He was soft-spoken but was the rock of his family.

Fred loved fishing with Phyllis, watching baseball (the Astros and the Round Rock Express), and woodturning with his local woodturning community. Fred wood-turned over 100 pieces of wood into signature vases, bowls, and plates. He also created many objects for family and friends who provided wood from their locations.

Fred is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis, sons Gary (wife Erin) and Greg (wife Merri), and stepchildren, Katie Stout and Harley Stout (wife Charlotte Myers), along with grandchildren, Kendall Dufner (husband Michael) and Jake Zumwalt (fiancée Katie Meserole). He is also survived by his niece, Nancy McCown (husband Jimmy) and nephew, Mark Rackley (wife Michelle) and their families, as well as cousins and extended family.

Many thanks to Dr. Darren Kocs, Texas Oncology, for helping Fred survive seven+ years. We cherished your guidance, love, and support. Thanks to their amazing front desk staff, nurses and techs, support and scheduling teams, and the pharmacy; all provided the absolute best care. Finally, thanks to Gentiva Hospice, especially Lori Gilliam, who was Fred's hospice nurse; she was his steady support these final months.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society or your favorite charity.