For over 40 years, Fred was a successful building contractor and cabinet maker in Saint John, owning and operating Erb Construction Ltd. He was also actively involved in the retail recreational vehicle trade, owning Erb Trailer Sales and Supplies for a number of years in Saint John. Following his retirement from the construction trade, Fred was employed by the New Brunswick Housing Corporation as a building inspector.

Fred was a proud veteran of World War II , being a member of the Perth Regiment seeing active duty in Italy, Belgium and Holland as a demolitions expert.

During his full life, Fred enjoyed travelling with his numerous travel trailers, hand building one of the first travel trailers in the Maritimes.  He enjoyed trailering throughout the Atlantic Provinces and finally parking in Doaktown and St. Martins. He was an accomplished fly fisherman and could be found fishing salmon on the Miramichi or Cains River most times.

Fred was a member of Hibernia Lodge No. 3, Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 20, Sussex and Shriners Luxor Temple in Saint John as a member of the Maple Leaf Unit.

Fred was predeceased by his first wife Thelma (McLaughlin) Erb who passed away in 1980 and by his second wife Marilyn (Soper) Erb who passed away in 1995, his long time partner Margaret (Campbell), his son, Kevin who passed away in 1963; one sister, Thelma Smiley and a son-in-law, Malcolm Campbell.