Born in Denton County to Joe Funk, a Methodist minister, and Vernice Funk an accountant, Fred is a life long resident of the area and a fifty-one-year member of the Krugerville community. Fred has been married to his high school sweetheart, Dana for sixty-one years. They have three children, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Fred originally attended North Texas State College (now UNT), but later transferred to East Texas State College to pursue a pre-theology degree with a minor in psychology. He later switched his educational and career path to accounting. Fred retired from Haverty Furniture Company at age fifty-two and he and Dana have been living the good life since.