Walter Frey

Walter Anton Frey passed away in Manteca, California on October 21, 2025 after a long and courageous fight with Cancer. Walter was born on May 28th, 1959 in Berkeley California. He was raised in Kensington, California where he went to Elementary school. He attended Kennedy High School in Richmond, CA and eventually graduated from Chico State University where he majored in Social Science with a Minor in Mathematics. Following the footsteps of his father Walter Frey Sr. (who passed away in 2022), Walter became a Math teacher where he spent his career teaching Math at Clear Lake High School, San Lorenzo High School, and Ceres High School - all for a total of 33 years. Walter married Carol in 2012 and they both moved in together in Manteca. He was very active in St. Anthony's of Padua Catholic Church.

Walter (aka "Wally") had a tremendous passion for hunting and fishing. He started fishing around the time he was old enough to walk. There were few things that gave him more pleasure than sitting by a Lake or in a boat with a fishing pole in his hands. His preferred method of hunting was with a bow and arrow. He would snag a deer in the mountains and then take it to a local butcher shop where they would package up a year's worth of meat for him in neat brown packages. He loved rural life, a love he developed from his Maternal grandfather, Robert Mayfield who hailed from Texas and always raised chickens, rabbits, and horses.

Walter also had a deep love for animals. He always had a cat or a dog. He would often brag about his adorable dog, Clayton, who is no doubt also mourning the loss of Walter.

Walter was tremendously handy and loved working on automobiles. At one point he installed his own car lift in his backyard that he acquired from a local auto shop that was closing. Those who knew Wally were impressed by his honesty and straightforwardness. One of his most striking characteristics was his internal strength and optimism. Despite struggling with Cancer for over 20 years, he never gave up hope that he would beat it. He maintained that strength up till the very end. He attributed his strength to the many hours he would spend wandering through the forest hunting. He knew how to endure the harshness of life, a skill which took him to his final hours.

Walter is survived by his beloved wife Carol, his mother Marlys Mayfield, his brother Mark, and his wife Heather, his Niece Claire, her husband Ryan, and her son Simha, and his step children Elizabeth and Michael.

A service will be held for Walter at St. Anthony's of Padua Catholic Church at 505 E. North Street in Manteca, CA on Friday, November 14th at 10:30 am.