EULOGY
Fredrick James Chantler entered into the presence of the Lord on Sunday, August 5th, 2018 due to cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sharon Bowen Chantler, his five children and their spouses along with 10 grand children, 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, along with many other extended family. He is preceded in death by his father, Sylvester Chantler; mother, Thelma Chantler; and brother, Paul Chantler. What a glorious Chantler reunion that must have been when these four re-united together with Jesus!!

His Children:
Loren Chantler (& wife, Marline) of Reno, Nevada
Randy Chantler (& wife, Rhonda) of Gilroy, California
Jeannine Chantler Robeck (& husband, Ed) of Glencoe, California
Stacey Chantler Fahrenbruch (& husband, Mike) of Manteca, California
Stephanie Chantler of Gilroy, California

His Grandchildren:
Kristen Chantler Leslie (& husband, Jason) of Sparks, Nevada
Lance Chantler (& wife, Courtney) of Reno, Nevada
Heather Robeck Smith (& husband, Chris) of Morgan Hill, California
James Chantler of Gilroy, California
Erikka Robeck Hoffman (& husband, Greg) of Clovis, California
Katelyn Robeck of Glencoe, California
Jonathan Williams of Seattle, Washington
Melissa Fahrenbruch Valentine (& husband, Dylan) of Roseville, California
Trevor Williams of Gilroy, California
Sean Fahrenbruch of Lathrop, California

His Great-Grandchildren:
Jacob Halsey of Reno, Nevada
Parker Smith of Morgan Hill, California
Kaitlyn Jones of Reno, Nevada
Cooper Smith of Morgan Hill, California
Brooklyn Smith of Morgan Hill, California
Malakhi Packer Robeck of Glencoe, California
Emma Chantler of Reno, Nevada
Hunter Smith of Morgan Hill, California
Emma Hoffman of Clovis, California



Gwenevere Hoffman of Clovis, California

His Great-Great Grandchildren: Aubrey Halsey of Reno, Nevada

Extended Family: Sister In Law: Berdie Chantler; Nieces, Janice Chantler Zeitler, Trish Allbritton & Charlene Mapson. Cousins: Jennelle Azevedo, Shirley Azevedo, Don Azevedo, Larry Azevedo, Dennis Chantler, David Chantler & Joan Prather.

• Fred shared his life story with his family in 2016 and we'd like to share it with you.


Through the recollection of my Chantler family of origin and through first hand experience, it is my understanding that the following memoirs, "Through My Years!" are accurate and true. Change was constant, growth was important and sense of family was everything. I share it with you today sincerely from my heart.

I'm thankful to have experienced a full life with my loving family, one that's been full of lessons, challenges and a life time of memories to cherish. I want to share my most valued lessons and joys, my roots and details from the 1930's through today with those I love. My family is of great importance to me and as I now reach my mid 80's, it's my wish to make sure you know me well, where I came from, who I am and how my life became what it's been…built on a strong faith in God, honesty, character and integrity.

In my early years, my Mother, Thelma Dowling Chantler; Father, Sylvester Roseman Chantler and my older Brother, Paul Eugene Chantler were my circle of life. They were the ones I could count on, learn from, grow and laugh with through thick and thin, ups and downs, through all life brought us…together with God's faithfulness, we did what we knew to build a Christ-centered quality life.

While driving through Gilroy in 2016, I see that many of the homes, barns, structures, swings and all we enjoyed are no longer standing, yet they still live strong in my heart. Just as the love for my Mother, Father and Brother who have gone on to Heaven before me. I'm grateful for the roots planted in my heart.

My parents met in the early Spring of 1925 and were married 6 weeks later. Thelma Dowling and Sylvester Chantler married April 29th, 1925 in a home on the corner of Rosanna and 8th Street in Gilroy with a Pastor and a few witnesses. Mom wore orange blossoms in her hair, I'm sure she was a beautiful 21 year old bride, and Dad a handsome red-headed hard-working 21 year old man. Their short courtship became a marriage lasting 53 years until the passing of my Mother (November 8th, 1978). Their 53 years together proved love, commitment, hardwork and a strong sense of family works.

This Chantler family became a family of four: my parents, my older brother Paul, born November 18th, 1927 and me. I was born on June 10th, 1930 weighing 10 ½ pounds. I was born in the home of Bertha Ketchum in Gilroy (my paternal step-grandmother). Grandma's house was on Thomas Lane (where Gilroy High School is now located at 10th St and Princevalle). Her home was on 100 acres or so of land (60 acres were prune orchards, the rest was hay and grape vineyards) known as Thomas Ranch. Grandma helped Mom with our childbirth, as Paul and I were both born in her bathtub. That was very common in that time. As I came up from the water taking my first breath of air, I'm sure Mom's first gaze at my little face was one of excitement. She always made sure I knew she loved me and would support and believe in me for life. It was humble beginnings, but I thank God for the mother and father I was given. Grandma kept Mom and I safe for a week or so until Mom was strong enough to return home to our Cohansey Avenue house. Our home was on 30 acres of prune orchards at that time, a pioneer type home. We lived there 1930-1932.

In 1933 or so, Dad bought a house in town on Church Street between Third and Fourth Streets on the west side of Church Street. I recall Dad telling me that he paid $3,000 for the house and we lived there until 1934. It was a 2 bedroom house which is still standing today. From what my parents told me, Dad worked for "Byers Brothers Ford" at this time cleaning spark plugs and general clean up work on Model T Fords (this building still stands on Monterey St between 2nd & 3rd streets and is a company called "Car Care"). The winter we spent in this home, brought a heavy snow. Of course, Paul wanted to go out and play in it. Mom said "No", so she went out and brought in a large bowl of snow so we could play inside in the snow together. Soon after, Dad sold this house and bought a Morey Avenue Ranch, 11 acres of prune orchards located out on a portion of what is known today as Santa Teresa Boulevard (an estimated 8 blocks or so south of the Christopher Ranch High School). We bought this home from Mr. Collins (a rancher across the street, I still have prune boxes with his name stamped on them). The house had been a barn prior to our move in, so Dad had to plumb and rewire the house, install a septic tank, toilet and sewer system, wood stock, running water, bathroom and more…a major fixer-upper.

The Summer of 1935, I recall a road trip to Bay City, Michigan to see Great Grandma and Aunt Lily (my maternal Great Grandmother & Great Aunt), we loaded up our 2 door Model A Ford Sedan (2 year old car) for a long 3 ½ days drive at 45-50 mph with tent, cots, camping gear and all stuffed in the trunk, on the fenders and strapped every where we could. There were no freeways or expressways. While traveling through the Rocky Mountains, the engine was so hot, it turned black so Dad stopped to walk down to a nearby creek to get water for the radiator. We got the car running and continued on to stay 5 days with the family, then headed back home (another 3 ½ days drive!). When we got home, Gilroy was hit with a high heat spell which burned all the trees on our property, cooked up the prunes right on the trees and ruined all the fruit. No fruit or harvest for us that year, we stayed in our Morey Avenue Ranch through 1936.

In late 1936, we moved again to town in Gilroy to a North Rosanna Street house between Fourth and Fifth Streets on the east side of the street. I remember a huge storm hit and knocked out a huge eucalyptus tree with it falling kitty corner into the street across from us (it didn't hit any homes, but it stretched in the street past the neighbors houses). Needless to say, this 200 foot tall, 4 feet around tree was memorable. Mom and Dad decided shortly after to rent this Rosanna Street house out to renters, so we moved a few streets over to Hannah Street (Fifth & Hannah Street – the third house from the corner on Fifth Street on the west side). We stayed in this house through the Winter of 1938.

Dad having 2 houses in town in 1938, decided to trade both homes for a ranch just north of Gilroy right off Monterey Road and Ronan Avenue just near the railroad tracks at Liman Avenue. I was 8 years old about the time we moved in and carry special memories of our time there. The house was set back 100 feet from the railroad tracks, which the railroad had a spur track going across Monterey Road to the big Ivan Hollister Warehouses where products would be stored. There were 4-6 warehouses in rows that tankers and freight cars delivered oil products and dry goods. When we could, my brother Paul, Harold & Glen Spence, a variety of neighborhood kids and myself would go over between the warehouses and play baseball.

The new house ranch trade came through Mrs. Sylva, a relative of the Gould Family. The house on this ranch was just a shell, Dad rebuilt it by hand. When we arrived, It was a single wall house built without studs which made the siding on the house act as a frame to hold up the house. The windows were 7 feet tall leaking air. There was no insulation, so Dad & Mom installed some felt with wall paper on top to block out the drafty air. We first had 10 acres, later purchasing an adjacent 8 acres, total of 18 acres of prune orchards. He traded the upper 5 acres alongside of the railroad tracks near Las Animas Ave for 5 acres that the neighbor behind us had making the property more square, than long. The ranch came with the "house", barn, water tank house, 2 wells, chicken coops and milk shed. I remember 4 walnut trees at each corner of the house that upon harvest time, Dad would sell the nuts to pay for the taxes.

There was no plumbing in the house, except for a wood sink. Dad put in all plumbing and arranged for PG&E to put in a gas line for utilities. When Dad arranged for gas for the kitchen, Mom told me as soon as she could, she'd bake me a birthday cake. At 38 years old, my Dad hand dug a ditch to bring the gas to the house – four feet deep and 2 feet wide for about a block down from the meter to the house. He worked with PG&E to get permits and permission for this ditch and gas line and worked with them to install the pipeline. They had to drill underneath the railroad tracks which was on their property, the costs were paid by PG&E as far as I know. Dad bought a kitchen stove, it was gas & wood heated, though it wasn't brand new, it still made things much easier for Mom. I'm happy to say Mom was able to make me a 2-layer birthday cake with frosting in the stove with a wood kindler. We also heated the water with the kindler. The cake was good! .

I enjoyed living on the ranch as I was able to hunt gophers and ride my bike around. Dad paid me $ .10 a gopher that I'd shoot with my "22" (a box of 50 shells would cost $ . 25). I raised Red Drorocs Pigs – 2 at a time. I believe we sold them at $50 each to my Uncle Oliver, Dad's Brother. We milked our 2 cows daily (1 Jersey & 1 Gurnsey), had a lot of rabbits for meat (100 rabbits or so), chickens for eggs and a large garden the whole family took care of. There was always something to do. Paul and I would play and have chicken fights with friends with me on his shoulders. At around this time (1939), we met the Bowen family. I remember coming home from school and Sharon would be waiting for me to give her a ride on my bicycle around the ranch. I had an Elgin bike, it was heavy as lead for me to handle.

The 18 acres of prunes were non-producing old orchards, so Dad had Bob Gould come by to help pull the trees up with his tractor. Dad cut up the wood by hand, pulled the deep tree roots and cut the wood to use as firewood and burned the brush from the old orchards. Once it was cleared, we planted Alfalfa. Later, Dad bought a Farmhall Model H Tractor with a mower, we used it to cut the hay, then to let it dry. We put it in the barn by hand loading it on the Model T Ford truck. My Mother watered the Alfalfa hay when it needed it through Irrigation with 6" galvanized surface pipes, she started the pump and moved the pipes to the next area to water (water was through our home irrigation well). We would take pitch forks to the loose hay in the mornings, careful not to lose the leaves on the Alfalfa and helped with the watering. We would take the loose hay up to the barn and later would sell it, from what I recall it went for $12.00 per ton. Our Alfalfa was a 6 year crop, we would get 5-6 cuttings of hay each year. Dad sold a few loads to people who had cattle, as well as to Bob Winters, Sr. I grew up in school with his son, Bob Jr. who became a Santa Clara County Sherriff, we stayed in touch for 50 plus years.

I remember a lot of things growing up on the ranch, I was 11 or 12 when I was given a 1928 engine and built the stand for it so I could learn how this thing worked. I'd use Dad's tools (sockets, wrenches and all) to tear it down because I didn't have any way to grind the valves. I loved it! I took it all a part and put it back together about 4 times. Dad would never let me spend any money on it. I had no use for it because it was an old engine, but it was good to learn on. I also learned to drive at the ranch, in an old 3 pedal Model T Ford. It was a crank start with pedals for forward, reverse, and brake, rod was the gas. I was 11 years old and it was all I could do to steer with my hands and reach the pedals with my feet. We'd load up the truck with hay and drive out beside the barn. With our pitch forks, we'd throw the hay from the ground level to the upper deck inside the barn filling it full, then to the lower deck with hay. We had plenty of hay for the winter for the cow and pigs that Dad let me raise.

Paul and I rode the bus each day to school attending Jordan Grammar School on Hannah Street (between 2nd & 3rd streets); Severance School on Church Street (between 3rd & 4th streets); Wheeler School (8th grade) right behind the high school on IOOF Avenue. Finishing out my last 4 years at Gilroy High School.

My education and schooling was memorable…
1st Grade Teacher: Miss Barshinger
2nd & 3rd Grades Teacher: Miss Kromar
4th Grade Teacher: Mrs. Winkler
5th Grade Teacher: Mr. Hudson
6th Grade Teacher: Mrs. Mileney
7th Grade Teacher: Mr. Hadley
8th Grade Teacher: Miss Bowen (no relation to my future wife)
9th Grade Teacher: Mr. Morris (Math); Mr. Daniel Lindstead (Shop); Pop Davidson (Typing & Free Hand Drawing); Art Baxter (Gym); Mr. Ed Towner (Band).
10th Grade Teacher: Pop Davidson (Typing & Free Hand Drawing); Art Baxter (Gym); Mr. Daniel Lindstead (Shop); Mr. Ed Towner (Band).
11th Grade Teacher: Mr. Hunter (Physics); Art Baxter (Gym); Mr. Hadley (History); Mr. Daniel Lindstead (Shop); Pop Davidson (Typing & Free Hand Drawing) & Mr. Ed Towner (Band).
12th Grade Teacher: Mr. Hadley (American History); Art Baxter (Gym); Pop Davidson (Typing & Free Hand Drawing); Mr. Daniel Lindstead (Shop)

Graduated High School – June 1948
My favorite subjects in school was Shop and Free Hand Drawing. I played French Horn and Trumpet in the Band 3 years in Highschool where I learned to read music, march in rhythm and play well, I loved it! Obviously, my shop classes helped to form my future as I studied woodworking, welding and automotive. During my senior year, I went only 1 semester with a half day schedule as I had all my credits completed, but wasn't old enough to graduate early. I worked at Purity Grocery Store part time as a stock and bag boy during this time.

My favorite memories as a teenager were formed back on the ranch as we stayed through 1946. We sold our home ranch to Bob Kishimira in 1946, a first generation Japanese family after the war (you'll notice now in 2016, New Hope Church has set its roots and settled on this land). We sold the ranch at $800 per acre x 18 acres totaling $14,400. Today I hear it's worth a $1,000,000 per acre. Other than the Church, it's all vacant land now with the storage buildings and businesses on the north end of Forest Street.

After selling the ranch, we moved once again back into town to 242 North Hanna Street to a duplex house (the 2nd house down from the Bowen's house who lived on the corner of 4th and Hanna Streets). We lived here 2 years as I graduated from High School and worked part time at Purity Grocery Store. On January 1st, 1949, we took possession of a ranch in Brownsville, Oregon for $29,000 to raise cattle. We said goodbye to close family and friends and loaded up the household as Mom, Dad, Paul, Berdie, Aunt Lily and I moved onward to our very own piece of Oregon.

The ranch was 172 acres with 13-14 different kinds of game animals. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to hunt due to closed hunting season; however, we had a creek with trout on our property so we were able to fish often. Our neighbors were also after our fish. It came with 1 horse, Dad bought dairy cows and drop calves at the local auction, 5 pigs, turkeys, chickens and my best friend… my dog, Pal!

Dad planted a total of 48 acres of oats by hand, 2 different parcels across the creek from each other. The crops grew fast, so we cut and dried them and hired a man to come and bale it for us. Dad belonged to a creamery, as we began to milk cows every day. When they got too much milk for the creamery, they'd put a red dye in it to send it back. We'd get up at 4am to milk the cows to get the milk ready out to the main road as the co-op was coming daily for milk (our driveway was ¾ of a mile long). Just Dad and I were the milkers, it was a lot to keep up with in the drastic cold. It was far away, lonely, an extremely cold winter. We quickly realized this lifestyle was not for us. By August the same year, we decided to sell the ranch and head back to Gilroy. We were in for a long drive heavy loaded with 2 trailers of furniture, We arrived at the Bowen's home for a short stay as we settled once again in a new country ranch. (The Brownsville, Oregon 172 acre ranch sold for $35,000 in 1949).

A happy return to our home town, Dad bought 30 acres at the intersection of Ferguson and Leavesley Roads on the east side of Gilroy. The land had old prune orchards, a 2 story, 2 bedroom house (2 bedrooms, kitchen, front room and bathroom downstairs and entire upstairs was 2 large bedrooms). The staircase was off of one of the bedrooms downstairs. The house was powered by propane. Dad bought a cow, pulled out all but a few trees as they were an old orchard, bought a tractor and wagon so we pulled out tree roots and saved the wood for firewood. We had our black lab, Pal (from friend, George Richmond) he'd stay tied up at night since Dad didn't want him to take off. It was a very cold night and Dad felt sorry for Pal, so he let him loose from his rope, but unfortunately, Pal decided to take off and was hit by a car in traffic.

We bought Flemish Grant Rabbits (6 Doe's & 1 Buck), built hutches for them and placed them under the few prune trees remaining for shade. One high heat summer hit in the 50's, which claimed the life of all the bunnies. I used to raise them and butcher them to sell to the local butcher shop. Dad had the acreage prepped for pasture land and planted a mix of Fetch & Oats which were good pasture grazing for cattle. We watered with irrigation well water. Dad was working at BEGE in Gilroy in the Machine Shop running the Lathe. By this time I was driving my first car, a 1937 Buick Sedan (8 cylinder). I paid $200.00 for it, wore it out and later sold it for $137.00 to Wilbur Newton of Iron Mongers Business.

In 1951, Dad sold the current ranch and at that time, I was able to buy with my own money a 4 door Chevy Sedan (can't believe it back then, I wasn't the Ford man I am today). I was just 21 years old. We then moved to 391 Fifth Street corner of Fifth & Hanna (you kids will recognize this house as "Uncle Woody's" home when you were young). We purchased the house from Mr. Thomas of the Thomas family in Gilroy. I lived there with my parents until August 1952 when I married Sharon Bowen (I was 22 and she was 15).

The Chantler and Bowen families made an early connection in Gilroy in 1939 (I was 9 and Sharon just 2), meeting at Glad Tidings Church in Gilroy. Both families joined another church shortly after, attending Pentacostal Church of God Church with Pastor Thurman Millholland. It was a small country pentacostal church that challenged us spiritually and met our needs. Our parents became close friends, leaning on eachother through thick and thin, as well as good times too. Thurman and Chlorine Chappel, Sharon's Aunt & Uncle, her Grandparents Bowen, as well as my extended family were all connecting on a daily basis. Through the years, Sharon and I would play together, I protected her often from my brother, Paul that loved to tease her, and somehow at our early ages and strong sense of family, we grew in kindred spirit and felt we belonged to each other later down the path of our lives.

We dated throughout 1951 which included roller skating, trips to see her Grandpa Wininger in San Francisco, trips to the beach, picnics at Mount Madonna and easy going times at home. At that time, our financial resources were very low, so we kept things sincere and simple. I was working making just $1.25 per hour. I remember driving down 10th Street in San Jose, just 10 blocks down off of Santa Clara Street (not a desirable area these days) and just pulled over on the side of the street. I pulled out an engagement ring and asked Sharon to marry me. She said yes! We went on to have an engagement picture taken the same day and then headed to Watsonville to a Rio Del Mar fine dining restaurant to celebrate, just the two of us! We splurged and loved a 7-course meal together. I remember I had a delicious, huge serving of abalone steak that night. What a beautiful night that was!

August 29th, 1952, we were married in a sweet ceremony at the Methodist Church in Gilroy (corner of 4th & Church Street), officiated by Pastor Elmer Stump and Sharon's cousin, Irma White sang a special wedding song. We had 100 guests or so and 4 attendants (Vivian Barker, Berdie Chantler, Paul Chantler and Thurman Chappel). Our ceremony was followed by a cake and gift reception. Katherine Gould and each of our Mothers planned the wedding overall. On our 1st Anniversary, we took all 4 of our parents out for dinner returning to the Rio Del Mar Restaurant in Watsonville for another wonderful meal. The portions were much smaller, though it was a very memorable time together.

We rented a 2 room house on Chestnut Street a few weeks before we got married at $45.00 per month rent. I was making $52.00 per week driving forklifts and other machinery at BEGE. This was a great place to work (Buzzard & Gurries – Buzzard had the money and Gurries had the "know how"). At one time, there were 6 men in the family working for BEGE. I worked in the machine shop, weld shop, cutting shop, paint department and shipping helping load equipment. Some memorable Foremen that impacted my work were Joe Garcia, Cutting Dept; Curly Thomey, Shop & Weld Shop; Buck Davis, Paint Shop; Harvey Barrett, Shipping and Thomas Mangano, Machine Shop. I learned a great deal while working with this team.

Early 1952, I joined the National Guard and went to Camp Cook, near Santa Barbara for 2 weeks of training. While there I contracted the Mumps so I came home early and was let off duty. I met a dear friend, Jimmy Turner through the Guard, he was a veteran of the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Ord, Monterey so I serviced his car often. Jimmy lived in El Centro near the border, as well as many other of my fellow brothers in arms.

We didn't stay long in the Chestnut Street house, maybe a year or so and then moved to the south side of 6th Street to a rental home owned by the Newton's (Railroad & 6th Streets – second house inside of block). We stayed the next year & a half or so and then moved to yet another rental home owned by the Garbini family, a 3 room Cottage on Leavesley Road. The cottage was on a cement slab, floor was low and when it rained we were invaded by worms. The rent was just under $40 a month. Though the price was right, we made it through winter and chose to move out.

My Dad's Brother, Oliver asked if we'd like to rent a house he owned on Kern Ave for $45 per month, it was a country home that came with a variety of fun and challenge for us both. We had chickens, ducks, pigs, inherited 2 dogs with the house - Pal (#2), a Labrador mix and Jiggs, an Australian shepherd mix.

While Sharon was pregnant with Loren in 1955, there was a big flood. All of west San Martin drainage flooded. All rain water, a hand made creek, culvert in front of our house, couldn't get through Gilroy. Flooded many homes on Walnut Lane near the old High School. The street was higher than the water though we had 2 feet of water in our yard. We put our furniture on prune boxes, water rose to the steps up to our house; however there was no damage to the house. We stayed in this house until 1956 til Loren was born.

While at this Kern Ave house, I raised hogs and worked in Morgan Hill at a Feed Store with Manager, Bill Athox. It was a Co-Op Chicken and Cow Feed Store. I would sweep out box cars, saving the extra feed for our animals. During this time, I was able to trade in my Model A Ford at Ken Grave's Dealership for a 1952 Studebaker Pick Up Truck. It was a blessing. I'd buy potatoes by the ton to feed the pigs and load up the truck, would pick up used rubber tires to burn in a barrel to cook the potatoes in a huge pot, over burning tires too, mix in some grain and the hogs ate well, "hog heaven" as they'd say these days!

I recall taking a hog to Morgan Hill to a man I worked with that butchered and prepared the hog for purchase. We sold it to Sharon's Grandpa Wininger for $50-$60 and took it to him. We had 118 ducks and would sell them to a local Chinese Restaurant on Main Street (south of 6th Street). Sold them live to the restaurant 6 at a time, I'd bring them in their kitchen and they'd have me let them loose…live ducks running around their kitchen. Over time, I was able to sell a good amount of ducks to them and still remember their kitchen. During this time, our good friend, Keith Fletcher, a Navy man was shipped out, so we took on his goat. What a hard-headed, stubborn-minded mean creature he was. He'd butt a steel barrel straight on with his head, not only beating the barrel but his poor head was weary & worn from battle as well. Crazy goat!

We were offered a rental home from Charlie Haines on Church Street. The current renters were leaving, so it was available. We gave my Uncle Oliver our notice that we'd be leaving the Kern Ave Ranch and as we saw the condition inside the house on Church Street, serious concerns led us to back out of the deal. By that time, Uncle Oliver had secured new renters for the Kern Ave house. The issues with the rental house was rat holes in the floors, a lot of them and we weren't ready to deal with rats or severe holes and repair with a new baby. Due to heavy flooding that year, we were quickly welcomed by my parents at their home just after the birth of our first baby boy, Loren Fredrick. It was a sweet time as Mom helped us adjust to becoming new parents for the first 6 months. We lived with them at 172 North Church Street (3 doors down from 4th Street east side).

In 1957, my Dad took us to check out a house for sale at 320 Rosanna Street, it was 2 bedroom home with a large family and dining room. We loved it and arranged with Grandma Ketchum to borrow $500.00 from her for a deposit to make it ours. The cost of this home was $9500.00, so Grandma decided to buy the house outright herself and that we would make payments direct to her. What a blessing that was! So my family of 3 moved in and dressed this place up! During that time, Grandma's health failed, so Dad bought the house from her and the remaining payments were made to him until we were able to pay it off in full over 4 years, we were homeowners!

While there, I worked 3 jobs in order to keep full time work and provide for my family. I worked for my cousin's husband, George Azevedo. Emil Zamzow, Fire Chief in Gilroy offered to hire me as a Fireman and would completely train me for the job. God blessed me with opportunities & choices, so I chose to go with George since I had great faith in him. George was 10 years older than me, a strong man with experience and knowledge, one who believed in me and taught me a lot in these years. He taught me to weld, we drilled wells, welded drill bits and many other projects. I also worked for Schallenberger Machinery in the Machine Shop. This is where I met Billy Schallenberger, the boss' son who was a sweet man, one with disabilities and often taken advantage of. He had a kind heart and was just 4 years younger than me. Mr. Schallenberger Sr. made some poor choices with his business in later years, his business manager wound up in prison for forgery and fraud. Billy then took over the management and lost the company. I also had an in-home Television Repair business on the side that I ran in our dining room. I'd repair T.V.s in the evenings at home, replacing tubes, etc. Between the 3 jobs, I was making about $52.00 per week (plus alittle)…it provided for our growing family.

During our time on Rosanna Street, our family grew and God's blessings were on this Chantler household. We became a family of 7 ….
– Loren – born March 9th, 1956 (Born while living at the Kern Ave house)
- Randy – born January 28th, 1958 (320 Rosanna Street house)
- Jeannine – born August 6th, 1959 (320 Rosanna Street house)
- Stacey & Stephanie – born September 16th, 1962 (320 Rosanna Street house)

We lived in our little Rosanna Street house for 6 years and by 1963, felt the over crowding had become too much for our growing children. We began looking for a larger, affordable home in Gilroy. Our Rosanna Street house at that time was appraised for $14,500.00 which we were able to sell to our Realtor, Dale Connell.

Dale had a beautiful home in mind for our large family though the price was too high and seemed to be quite a step up for us. He talked us into seeing the home and we fell in love with it, though we could not afford it. He worked a deal with us that he would apply the $14,500.00 from Rosanna Street to the mortgage on the new house to make our loan payments affordable. So we were able to purchase this home, new to us for a great price of $21,000 (asking price was $28,000.00). With the Rosanna Street sale amount applied to the mortgage, Dale agreed to set our mortgage amount at $14,600.00. Our monthly payments were $60.83 per month on a 20 year loan.

This house was a custom home built by Horace Willard Construction, who later became a friend of ours. It was built some years before for a parapalegic veteran and his family. It had been unoccupied for 3 years, on sale for 2 of those and seemed to be just waiting for this Chantler family…It was fully furnished, we only needed to buy 1 bed, that's God's added blessing! We moved in the summer of 1963 to the yellow house at 671 La Sierra Way in Gilroy (our Chantler homestead today!). Our original phone number for years was (408)842-3881.

Existing neighbors upon our arrival were very friendly through the years with many children to play with our kids. Constant activity down La Sierra Way once we arrived, it was a daily experience through the years to see many kids on bikes, roller skates, playing hopscotch, baseball down the street with 10 kids, playing in the sprinklers on the front lawn, water slip & slides next door, chasing our runaway dog, walks to the local Safeway, Rexall Drugs, Swenson's Ice Cream near by and more. Later on once the older boys started driving, cars, motorcycles, girlfriends & all…then our girls in their Pintos. Seems like yesterday… Thank you to Willy & Zola Walker next door to the right of us, to Harold & Ada Martin to the left of us, across was the Barrozza's, the Hughan's, the Borgna's, the Kings, the Stein's and Mr. Wolfe a few houses down to our left. You were kind neighbors and the years you lived near us were unforgettable. Today in 2016, of our original neighbors, only Amy King remains in her home. The Borgna and Barrozza homes are still owned by the families, and Sharon & I own the Martin's house next door to the left of us.

During this time, I continued to work for George Azevedo and other side jobs including Magiora Brothers on weekends. I welded hard faced drill bits, special rods to build up 42" gear and repaired worn out teeth on a big project. Unfortunately in 1969 I was laid off with George Azevedo, which we soon learned that God had new plans ahead for me.

Howard Schuller from Church (1st Assembly of God, Gilroy), worked in the weld shop at Westinghouse in Sunnyvale and was able to get me a weld test and interview soon after the lay off. Sharon's Dad also worked at Westinghouse in the machine shop. I showed up for the weld test and welded 6 plates, I did well and landed a job in the weld shop working with welding cooling tubes that went on 10'x12' tall transformer boxes. I'd weld them, pressure test, leak test them before they would be sent out. I worked in this shop for 15 months and layoffs hit the department. My boss, George Strupe really looked out for me during lay offs and was able to place me in a different weld shop, a private area with no cut in wages. I worked with the grinder and more at Journeyman level. I worked at Westinghouse from 1963-1968 working 40 hours per week earning $12.00 per hour which was terrific at that time.

I had previously planned a camping trip up to Willy Walker's cabin and my new job worked around that week with just no pay that one week. Otherwise our income was solid and steady. Soon the Cutting Department Foreman, Pete Deviak came by to see if I could read Blue Prints, he tested me and though they were extreme and 15' long prints, I was able to make good sense of it and was offered a position in the Cutting Department at Journeyman Level, same rate of pay.

I worked with materials 8" thick, some submarine material with 2 torches at a time for oxygen pressure. I learned a lot on this job. I worked night shift a lot during this time cutting aluminum material 3" thick. We managed to get steel from the yard with a crane, extremely heavy material, used to cut copper nickle with same cutter, plasma was a risk. We used no specific protective gear and were exposed to many dangerous chemicals and fumes. I could tell when I'd bring chocolate milk in my lunch, it tasted funny so I know the exposure of my job affected me. God protected me from burns, accidents and inhalation of harmful and damaging chemicals. I worked all shifts by now, 3rd shift paid 15% more for a 6 ½ hour shift rather than a full 8 hours. Gas was $ . 75 per gallon for a commute to Sunnyvale in my big truck.

A welder I worked with told me one day that UTC in Coyote was looking for welders, I was currently working under Carl (I can't recall his last name), as Foreman welding aluminum. Carl and fellow welder, Chris Charvez believed in me and took the time to set up training time to increase my welding knowledge and expertise to prepare me for more. I'd set some time aside to meet with them and they would have things set up for me to learn, ultimately Chris brought me the UTC job advertisement, I reached them and got an interview. I did well at the interview at UTC and landed a job welding stainless steel (heat treat basket work welding cracks in steel).
My first day was September 9th, 1968 at a wonderful $12.75 an hour. A variety of jobs through the years, stainless steel bottles on airplanes was one memorable task, I learned a lot. I worked on the A.S.A.M. Project – High Energy Space. It was some very risky, dangerous work I did high in the air at the head of a missile. I have a poster board picture of me that UTC later gave me that they had used in the offices promoting their progress. I'd ride my motorcycle up Metcalf Road, a rather curvy high edgy mountain climb to the UTC campus, 5200 acres with 100 structures hosting about 800 employees. I remember grinding the styrups on my bike off by rounding the corners of the roads, no guard rails and drop off cliffs at points.

This move to UTC settled my career path as I had learned a lot at Westinghouse, I grew more and learned even more welding technique and other work while at UTC through a long span of years working with a lot of welding machines. I met Jerry Reynolds who worked in Electronics, he and I worked often together syncing the welding machines electronically with the A.S.A.M. Project.

I worked with one of the welding inspectors that told me to check out welding wire, to which I found was being used very wrong and it was critical! I spoke up, had engineering test it, proving the wiring was dangerous in its use. I set up a test center to demonstrate my findings with an engineer visiting from the corporate office from Hartford, Connecticut. The answer was a 718 Wire!!

STG Test Span – (in picture on missile) – Working on the bonnet on top so the rain wouldn't get on the Tighten Motor Stand. I was 125' in the air on a "so-called" basket (a pallet with handles lifted by a crane). The same crane they used to lift an airplane that had crashed in the bay close to that time. I felt safe and I knew God had me. It was outdoor and cold, even snowed once. I recall working on the missile one day while it was raining, running down the poles, we tied rags around the poles to keep rain from getting into the welds. The missle was in 7 segments in 10' sections and nose, exit nozzle – 80'-90' tall. I was also able to mount by welding a camera on a 2" flange of I-Beam on the exit nozzle which was extremely flammable. It was an intense 2 week project, one that could have exploded and taken my life as well as others with me. Jerry Addy was the Foreman that worked with me on this and I am truly thankful for the experience and God's protection during this time. We worked a lot with experimental motors too, loaded with slow burning, very flammable. Throw in water, weld shops wouldn't risk it, very dangerous!

In 1986, I left the weld shop and became Maintenance Foreman. My boss was Fred Craig, who shortly after I started this position, he passed away. John Gillespie stepped up as my boss, a man I respect and have appreciated through the years. I worked over 3 departments including carpentry, sheet metal and yard workers.

For some time we worked on hosting UTC family picnics, we built the dance floors, kitchen shed, areas to store food, set up bathroom facilities, tents up, water & electricity set up, and helped with building the steel pits that the corn was cooked on with burlap.

During some of my years at UTC, I taught Welding classes at the Morgan Hill Adult Night School at the Morgan Hill High School campus on Monterey Road. I worked under Night Superintendant, Mrs. Epps. I taught for 3 years and am still certified to teach. I had a number of students that I was honored to teach, the General Manager of General Electric, the son of the #1 person at Mt Hamilton Observatory, County workers and more. I knew I was helping them a great deal to learn their trades. I taught welding, cutting, reading blue prints and more. During this time, I also worked a lot for Thurmamatic, Sharon's Uncle's company with heavy welding projects.

I retired from UTC on January 31st, 1991. It was bittersweet, I wanted to stop working but found a lot of value in my work. We Retirees would get together for UTC breakfast chit-chat from time to time, usually on Monday mornings as we were available. It was good to stay in touch!

In 1992, Sharon and I hooked up our trailer and went on a camping trip with Paul and Berdie to Oregon, a beautiful area. While away, I had a heart attack…So we got back to see doctors and found that I needed some medical attention right away. Just days later through an angiogram and all other tests, they found I had some blockage and so I underwent surgery and had angioplasty done to uphold a major artery. I was told to lay low and rest. Well… me being me, I decided Sharon and I were going to load up our new towncar and head up to Winnemucca to see Loren & Marline. Sharon drove to Sacramento and then I took over for the rest of the drive, ignoring doctors orders. The trip went fine, I was glad to see my son and his family which to me was a very important trip (I don't recommend ignoring doctors warnings, so don't follow my lead on this one if you run into medical trouble).

By March, I was back in the doctor's office with chest pain. They were monitoring me pretty closely but I was pretty stressed to be feeling the heaviness in my chest. By July, I wound up in Seton Medical Hospital in Daly City for open heart surgery with Surgeon, Sharon Seagull. A main artery to my heart was 95% plugged. I felt I was in good hands, first in God's, second in Dr. Seagull's as she was able to use small tubes for drainage and was careful to connect and disconnect all the many details, tools, regulators, etc. that go with such a delicate surgery. Pain came when they removed the tool that regulates the beat of my heart. I have had many boughts of angina through the years, I continue on medication and now have an aneurism in 2 places that threaten my life. At my age, I do what I can and live each day trusting God for the next.

1993-2003 were great years full of new friends and new places. Sharon and I joined the Good Samaritans Renegade RV Club with a wonderful group of campers that we hold dear to our hearts to this day. We joined this club through our friends, Hal & Judy Smith (I had worked with Hal at UTC in the weld shop) and we purchased our current trailer from them. Our travels together were well planned out among the group which took us to such places as Mel's Vineyard, South San Benito, Bethel Island, French Camp, Bodega Bay, Casa De Fruita, Fish Camp (south of Tracy), King City, Morgan Hill, Sugar Barge, Discovery Bay & other spots. We had a few close calls on the roadways and engine breakdowns as we all jumped in to help our fellow campers. A very memorable trip for me was when my brother, Paul's trailer broke down on Pacheco Pass/Hwy 152 on the side of the road not enough room for RVs, and had to pull his rig over on the edge. I soon found myself underneath it fixing the problem, putting my life totally into God's hands for sure that day and He protected me from the busy truckers and roadway fast drivers zooming by us. My heart was pounding, but we got that rig moving and down the heavy traveled highway as soon as we could. Another critical trip was helping Juergan's trailer as it flooded inside with water pouring out the front door, down their entry steps of the trailer. Pipes had broken, so we worked to repair them. Their flooring was soaked and the trailer needed some immediate attention once they got home.

We are thankful to have had many trips, lots of meals, games and a lot of chatter with our dear friends, Hal & Judy Smith, Paul & Berdie Chantler, Ed & Eddie Nylan, Joe & Flo Dougherty, Joe & Virginia Perez, Manny & Mary Fontes, Juergan & Terri Swenson, George & Helen Wright, Wilma Lawrence and Art & Gerri Gearing.

Through the years which I know you kids well remember, chasing Blackie all over town and often finding him at "Snow White" on First Street. That dog would climb and escape over my 7' pickets and electrified fencing didn't phase him as he escaped our backyard frequently. Raising rabbits, butchering them and serving them for dinner, probably not your favorite memories as kids, but it was good for you to experience. Me welding daily in the garage, my spot. Whenever you kids would open that door to say hi or check on me, I'd stop, lift my shield, offer you a smile even while the smoke was so thick around me. I'd always warn you not to breath in that smoke or watch the arcing of my torch. Always watching out for you, but I'd stop if you needed me. At one time, we had 8 Fords owned by our family of 7, many of which were our reliable Pintos of assorted colors. Of course, our green Ford Van with the "Chantler's Antlers" for my CB. We loaded up 13 of us and headed for a trip to Disneyland one year. I hope you all remember the fun times, I know our young years were always challenging as we worked hard to get you through school, keep our jobs and somehow get along, that was "real life" and I hope you've learned from it. It's not always rosey, so you work hard, rise up to the challenge and pray your way through it.

I've been blessed with great mentors and friends and am so thankful for what they have meant to me. Keith Fletcher, Bob Winters, George Azevedo, Primo Bornja, Dave Chantler and our Good Samaritan trailer club friends are all very memorable. I will never forget the teaching and lessons I've learned with my parents, Beau at WestingHouse and another co-worker, Gil Olson, Vern Lopz, Hal Smith, Woody Ketchum when fishing, and Don McMurray.

I encourage each of you to read and follow God's Word in your life, let it speak to you.

John 3:16
"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal and everlasting life".

Matthew 6:9
"Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever, Amen!"

"Through My Years" I've prayed often, worked hard and loved much. Still today I'm praying often, working hard to take care of Mom and me and I love you all very much. Sincerely, you're all very important to me. My grandchildren and great grandchildren, I love you very much and Mom/Grandma and I love your visits whenever you can make it. I hope this helps you understand who I am and where I've been. You can learn from my life that when your own life is faced with need and issues (which it will be), like us moving often, finding work, raising kids, learning to get along and much more life brings, the answer is to lean on God. He's holding us today and holding you too!

Yours Always,


Fredrick James Chantler
Your Loving Dad & Grandfather