Fred Cummings

Fred Cummings

November 12, 1940 - October 21, 2023

Avila Beach, California - Fred Cummings, 82, of Avila Beach, CA, passed away on October 21, 2023.

He was born in Los Angeles in 1940 to loving parents, Eugene and Marjorie Cummings.

Fred attended Whittier High School and Fullerton Junior College before studying Applied Arts at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Fred discovered his love of motorcycles after joining the Cal Poly Penguins motorcycle club and riding the hills in San Luis Obispo.

After college Fred joined the Army Reserves and married his first wife, Renée Hansen. They had three children, Garth, Dana, and Hallie. Fred was the most loving father and wonderful example to his children. He was seldom the disciplinarian but always had time for his family with a joke, a fishing lesson, a bedtime story, a motorcycle ride...

After his military service Fred went to work for American Honda and had the opportunity to buy, with the help of his parents, a Honda motorcycle dealership. He set up shop in Bakersfield, initially called The Honda Center and later re-named Fred Cummings Motorsports. Many of his employees and longtime customers became like family.

One of Fred's favorite sayings and some would say his life motto was "Follow your Bliss" and that is exactly what he did in the motorcycle business.

In 2004, Fred married his second wife, Donna, whom he adored. With his typical self-deprecating charm, he loved to say how lucky he was to have Donna, but "Donna, she's not so lucky".

Fred was an athlete and had many hobbies throughout the years: He was a member of the 20-30 Club, raced flat track at Ascot Park Speedway, rode dirt bikes with Garth and friends, raced his Hobie Cat, loved fishing, enjoyed vacations at Huntington Lake, was a runner and a skier, was a member of the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club SLO Pokes, rode street bikes all over the country with many friends including the Rusty Rimmers who gave him his road name "Smokey" and was an animal lover who doted on his beloved golden retriever, Annie.

He loved to make people laugh and was the most kind, honest, loyal, and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend you could know. If a perfect father existed, Fred was it. We were all so lucky to have him in our lives. He will be forever loved, admired, and missed.

Fred will be sadly missed by his wife, Donna Cummings; children, Garth (Suzanne) Cummings, Dana (Todd) Sweaney, Hallie (Grant) Fraysier; stepchildren, Dana (Mike) Becker, Brian (Joni) Sweaney; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Nancy (Mike) Mastagni; many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, a host of long-time friends and his golden retriever, Annie.

Fred was predeceased by his parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm, Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Rio Bravo Country Club, 15200 Casa Club Drive, Bakersfield, CA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Alzheimer's Association.