Fred Delano Arrington Antonowich passed away at his home in Durham Ca surrounded by his family on December 29th, 2016 at the age of 73 after a sudden and unexpected diagnosis of cancer. He was the patriarch of our family and his smile, his wisdom and constant presence will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Fred was born April 27th, 1943 to Fred and Verma Lee Arrington in Birmingham Alabama. He moved with his mother at a very young age to California. He was adopted raised by Nicholas Antonowich in Durham, attending Durham Elementary School and graduating from Durham High school in 1961.
Fred joined the Air Force in 1963, spending a total of 20 years in service in places from Vietnam, Thailand, California, New Mexico, Illinois, Spain and Germany. He retired from service in 1983 with an Honorable discharge as a Master Sergeant. He Married Denice Ann Streicher in 1970, and after his retirement from the Air Force they moved back to Durham, California where they raised their children and Fred returned to the family business of farming Almonds and Walnuts.
His hobbies included reading, spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and his involvement with Friends of the library and the American Legion, which showed his deep commitment to education, literacy and his community. He served as president of the Durham Friends of the Library and was Commander of the Durham American Legion Auxiliary Post 673.
He is survived by his wife Denice Antonowich; his son Aaron and wife Rie Antonowich and their children Zachary and Gianna, and his daughter Sandra Butler and her husband Nicholas Butler and their children Victoria, Katherine, John and Thomas; his brother Dale Antonowich and wife Linda and brother Don Antonowich and wife Janet and his sisters Janet Maxwell and Judy Wiley. In addition he is survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Verma Lee Antonowich and Nicholas Antonowich and Fred Delano Arrington.
Services will be at Durham Community United Methodist Church on January 7th, 2017 at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be in honor of Fred Antonowich to The Durham Friends of the Butte County Library, the American Legion Post 673 or the Durham Community United Methodist Church.