Frederick W. Arney III

Frederick William Arney III
August 25, 1929 – April 20, 2025
Frederick William Arney III, lovingly known as Fred W. Arney, passed away peacefully at home on April 20, 2025, at the age of 95. A devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and widower, Fred is survived by his daughters, Andi and Diana; his granddaughters, Chandler and Courtney; and his great-grandsons, Charlie and Tucker.
Born in Pasadena, California, on August 25, 1929, Fred lived an extraordinary life fueled by boundless curiosity, creativity, and adventure. He was a man of many talents and endless passions - a true renaissance man who never stopped learning, exploring, or creating.
Fred's early education took him through St. Anthony's and LA High School, culminating in his acceptance to the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Though he dreamed of life as an artist in Paris, his journey took a different path-one that proved just as colorful and inspiring.
Fred shared a deep and joyful love with his beloved wife, Barbara. Together, they embraced life's adventures, traveling the world, exploring new places hand in hand, and creating a lifetime of cherished memories. Their bond was filled with laughter, companionship, and simple pleasures, like enjoying a cocktail while Barbara played the piano, filling their home with music and warmth. Their partnership was a beautiful blend of love, humor, and shared curiosity, and Fred often spoke of those years with Barbara as the happiest of his life.
Fred was also a devoted family man. One of his greatest joys in life was raising his daughters, Andi and Diana, with love, humor, and plenty of adventure. One adventure included taking the family to a remote island off the coast of Belize where he taught Andi to scuba dive at the young age of 10. Diana and Dad had many travel adventures and were cruise aficionados. He embraced fatherhood with enthusiasm and carried that same energy into being a hands-on grandfather. He loved attending his granddaughter's recitals, graduation ceremonies, cheer competitions and tennis matches, with pride. He loved to show off his engineering and construction skills building an adorable doghouse for the girl's dog Sandy and a professional-looking Puppet Theater. One of his biggest joys later in life was living to see his great grandsons come into the world.
Throughout his diverse career, Fred wore many hats: surveyor for Southern Pacific Railroad, owner of EZ Divers in Downey, television technician at KTLA Channel 5, and key grip and producer in the motion picture industry. He worked on iconic productions such as The Bob Newhart Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Eight is Enough, and The Waltons. He worked with celebrities the likes of Paul Newman, John Wayne, Peter Fonda, Sylvester Stallone, Bob Newhart and Raquel Welsh to name just a few. He also founded Dolphin Enterprises, a grip equipment rental company, and was a proud member of both IATSE and SAG.
Fred integrated his artistic vision and love of the sea into many aspects of his life. A pioneering scuba diver and Senior Dive Instructor, he founded the California Wreck Divers, a club still active today. He later earned his U.S. Coast Guard Captain's license and spent many joyful hours on his beloved boat, The Pearl.
After a decade in San Carlos, Mexico with his late wife Barbara, Fred settled in the Ocean Hills Country Club community, where he embraced life to the fullest. He found joy in woodworking, ceramics, jewelry making, and sailing with the OHCC sailing club. He was also active with the Masons and the Al Bahr Shrine, cherishing the camaraderie and the shared commitment to philanthropy.
Fred's adventurous spirit, creative mind, and deep love for life left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He was a visionary and a futurist, always ready to "say yes and then figure it out." Whether teaching his daughter to drive with the mantra "Speed is your friend," or diving into new hobbies well into his 90s, Fred embodied the philosophy of living with purpose, passion, and play.
His life was a vivid mosaic of exploration and joy - from the ocean depths to film sets, from family dinners to artistic creations. The arc of a life lived so richly is impossible to fully capture, but Fred will be remembered for his independent spirit, his boundless energy, and his deep devotion to those he loved.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to
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