Fred was born in Long Beach, California and moved to Michigan in the early 40s and started to draw by chance as a boy after he lost his first dog. After a year in school, Fred started to draw the dog from memory and he told me he still has that first drawing.
Fred started working in wood later after he broke a rifle stock and could not locate a replacement, so he made one. About that same time Fred got interested in ice fishing and started to make decoys for himself and friends. Later in 1955 he enlisted in the Navy and getting out of the Navy he joined the NRA and spent 2 1/2 years riding bulls – Fred said “that hurt to much”. So he quit the bulls.
In 1960 he met is wife and married her in 1962 and over the years had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. He worked as an auto mechanic and auto body man and auto painting. He started bodywork in the 50s customizing cars. He went to work for himself in the 70s opening Fred’s Custom Painting. He was forced to retire in 1991 due to health and started in woodworking creating “Thingsmadeofwood”.
If you are interested in finding out more about Fred’s “Thingsmadeofwood” you can email him at thingsmadeofwood@yahoo.com.
Information provided by Fred Olds Sr.
at the request of Dale Claus. Thanks Dale