Fred A. Newton Sr. was born April 29, 1950, to the late Genell Newton and the late Freeman Newton of Taylor, Michigan. He shared 46 years of loving marriage to Mary Ann Newton and was blessed with a son, Fred Newton Jr., and a daughter, Renea Rainey. Fred was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who passed unexpectedly weeks before his first great-grandchild was born.

Fred was a giving man who served both his country and his community. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1968 and fought on the front lines of the Vietnam War. After serving two years in the Marines he returned to the States, where he met his wife, started a family, and began a career at Ford Motor Company. Fred began his fire service career in 1990 as a member of the Liberty Township Fire Department in Jackson County, Michigan. Since then he worked as the assistant fire chief for the Ford Transmission Plant in Livonia, Michigan; an adjunct fire instructor at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan; the county training coordinator in Jackson, Michigan; a member of the Michigan Urban Search and Rescue Team; and lastly was a captain for the Somerset Township Fire & EMS Department in Hillsdale County, Michigan. After 27 years of service, Fred passed away at the fire station on January 27, 2016, doing what he loved.

Fred spent most of his free time hunting with his wife and enjoying the company of his family. He worked hard to support his family and always put them and his service to the community before his own needs. All he wanted from life was for those around him to be healthy and happy, because that was what made him happy. He is deeply missed by both his family at home and his fire service family. He will forever hold a spot in the hearts for those he touched.