CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Frederick Burdette Gaul passed away on Sept. 9, 2018, at his home in Clearlake. He was 78 years old.

He was born July 21, 1940, to parents Eva and Hugh Gaul in Sacramento.

Fred had two brothers who died, so he grew up as an only child.

His family moved to Southern California where he attended school.

At age 18, while a student at Paramount High School in Paramount, he met his future wife, Ruth, then 15.

Fred graduated from high school in 1959 and served for a time in the Merchant Marines.

On Feb. 25, 1961, Fred and Ruth married in Artesia, Calif.

They would continue living in Southern California until 1969, when they moved their young family of four children to San Pablo and later Richmond in the San Francisco Bay Area.

During that time, Fred worked as a machinist in Oakland.

Fred followed his three sons into the Boy Scouts program as an involved parent and, before long, He moved up the adult ranks to district chairman of scouting.

He volunteered with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and was recognized for securing funds to purchase a K9 for the San Pablo Police Department.

He was the president of the San Pablo Chamber of Commerce and in the mid 1980s he was honored as San Pablo’s Man of the Year.

The Gauls made their next big move over the July 4 weekend in 2000, when they moved to their home in Clearlake.

Both Fred and Ruth became devoted community volunteers when they arrived in Lake County.

Fred was a member of the Volunteers in Policing for the Clearlake Police Department, and also was a Lakeport Police and Lake County Sheriff’s Office volunteer. He did code enforcement for the city of Clearlake, worked at the hospice thrift store and held a General Amateur Radio License.

He also was a member of the Clearlake Planning Commission.

After a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease, Fred passed away at home, with Ruth, his children and grandchildren by his side.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ruth; children, Randolph Gaul of Mesa, Ariz., Daniel Gaul of Milo, Iowa, Michael Gaul of Sandy, Oregon, and Cheryl Gaul of San Francisco; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren and one on the way.

No services will be held.

Memorial donations are requested to the Clearlake Police Department K9 Program.