Fred Ronald Montoya

Fred R. Montoya, 67, of Morgan Hill, California, passed away on February 9th, 2026.

Fred was born on March 27, 1958, in Colorado and was raised in Corcoran, California, in the heart of the Central Valley. He grew up alongside his siblings—Jess Montoya, Victor Montoya, Monica Montoya, and Lee Montoya—under the loving guidance of his parents, Fred B. Montoya and Margie Montoya. Those early years shaped his strong work ethic, determination, and deep sense of loyalty to family.
He attended Corcoran High School, where he played varsity athletics and met Barbara L. Bowman, his high school sweetheart. Their love began young and endured a lifetime. After marrying, Fred and Barbara moved to the Bay Area, where they raised their family and built a life rooted in hard work, love, and perseverance.

Fred was intensely passionate about his career and took immense pride in the work he did. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Davis, and later an MBA in accounting and finance from the University of Southern California. His accomplished career included serving as Vice President of Worldwide Logistics at IBM, Vice President of Logistics and Fulfillment at Dell, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Encore Manufacturing Services, LLC, Vice President at HP Computers, and Director of Information Technology at General Motors. Fred thrived on challenge and leadership, and his dedication left a lasting impact on every organization he served.

Outside of work, Fred embraced life fully. He loved golfing, deep sea fishing, and—above all—spending time with his family. He was known for being stubborn in the way only someone deeply committed can be, but his heart was bigger than his pride. Fred was deeply caring and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He was full of life, and everyone who knew him loved him. His presence filled a room, and his laughter, opinions, and generosity will be deeply missed.

Fred is survived by his loving wife, Barbara L. Bowman; his daughters, Maria Montoya and her husband, Zachary Downey, of Washington, and Anastasia Montoya and her husband, Jeremy Hitchcock, of New York; and his beloved grandchildren, Maggie Downey and Rhys Downey. He is also survived by his father Fred B. Montoya, his siblings, and a large extended family and circle of friends who will miss him dearly. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the family he cherished, and the example he set through his passion, generosity, and unwavering love.

A service celebrating Fred's life will be held at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church in Morgan Hill, CA on March 28th, 2026 at 10:00am to honor his memory and the life he lived so fully. Reception to follow at Cordevalle Winery in San Martin, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred's memory to The Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success (CCLASS) at the University of California, Davis. Through culturally relevant academic and personal support—including tutoring, mentoring, behavioral health resources, and other student success services—the center supports Chicanx and Latinx students from their first year through graduation. This cause was especially meaningful to Fred as a proud UC Davis alumnus who believed deeply in education and devoted much of his life to mentoring and uplifting Hispanic students. Contributions in his honor will continue his legacy of service, opportunity, and encouragement for future generations.

Donate here: https://give.ucdavis.edu/VCSA/SCLRI03