George Weaver Fry

October 19, 1946 – June 23, 2026

George Weaver Fry died at home on June 23, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. He was born October 19, 1946, in Bakersfield. He joined his parents Jack and Hazle (Weaver) Fry and his twin sisters, Jacklyn and Marylyn. When George was 6 weeks old, the family moved from Shafter to Mettler. When George was 10, the family moved to the current farm location at the base of Wheeler Ridge. With the exception of his time at UC Davis, Mettler remained his home for the rest of his life.

George was a farmer and, as farmers often are, a thinker and a tinkerer. He devised a new method for preparing the ground before planting tomatoes that became the industry standard. He served on ag boards including South Valley Cotton Gin, CalCot and Arvin Edison Water Storage District.

The ranch, started in 1914 by George's grandfather and great-grandmother in Shafter, expanded under his leadership to include carrots, table grapes, oranges, onions and cannery tomatoes.

Tomato harvest was hard work, but a joy for George. His kids, nieces, nephews, cousins, some of the kids' friends and later grandkids and their friends worked the harvest sorting tomatoes, driving tractor and working pad. There were close to 200 kids that learned lessons from George about the value of hard work and how to back up a trailer.

His tinkering extended to other parts of life. The mobile lobster steamer he designed and built has helped raise over half a million dollars for nonprofits in Bakersfield. His "seminars" have become a continuing topic of conversation among his students, which included everyone.

George loved his family and friends. George met Sheila Boyle in a pre-freshman algebra class at BHS in 1960. Although they went to separate high schools, they reconnected at BC and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary in September. They had three children, Cindy, Kiki and Colby.

Family fun included trips to Pismo for clamming, horseback riding and barbecues on The Hill, water skiing, houseboat trips, snow skiing, and traveling. With friends, he had a great poker group that played for decades, the Rancho NotSoGrande lunch group, and coffee with the boys. He enjoyed duck hunting and was the water master at his duck club, El Cinco. George loved playing gin. He was always delighted to find a partner and always had a scorecard in his pocket.

George was proud of his kids, grandkids and great grandkids including Cindy and Todd and their Walker, Sam and Miles; Kiki and Tom and their Emily and husband Derek, Jack and wife Lucy, Molly and fiancé Mitch; and Colby and Katie and their Sierra and husband Gregorio and girls Ayla and Keira, Carmela and Joe. Uncle George was beloved by his nieces and nephews and their children.

There will be a celebration at Luigi's on Friday, July 3 at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Cedars Sinai, American Cancer Society, ACLU, or a charity of your choice would be a fitting tribute.