William C. Freeman ’42

Date posted: June 29, 2012, 11:15 am

William “Bill” Capron Freeman (1920-2012), surrounded by his large family, left his earthly home to be in his Heavenly home on June 9, 2012. Bill was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 29, 1920, to Albert Moore Freeman and Helen Sabin Bishop Freeman. Bill attended Providence schools, graduating from Hope High School. His love of ships and sailing sent him to MIT in Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. During WWII, Bill served in the Merchant Marine, experiencing harrowing and also humorous adventures which he loved to relate. He worked for many years for Combustion Engineering. Upon retiring, he had his own engineering consulting business. He married Charlotte Margaret Kendrick, and their marriage was blessed with four children. Charlotte died in 1990. They resided in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Bill met Patricia Kelly in 1993 at an Elderhostel in Massachusetts. Their relationship progressed to a “leap year” marriage proposal. Bill and Pat were playing cribbage and Pat slipped in a joker on which she had written, “I love you. Will you marry me?” After marrying, they traveled extensively. In 1995, after living in Rhode Island and California simultaneously, Bill moved to Lodi permanently. He belonged to bowling groups in Stockton, which he greatly enjoyed–the friends he made there were far more important than the scores. He enjoyed yard work and doing chores at home. He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Helen Freeman; and his first wife, Charlotte Freeman. Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia Freeman of Lodi, California; his daughter, Virginia Freeman Beall (James) of Gales Ferry, Connecticut; his sons, William Capron Freeman Jr. (Beth) of Boise, Idaho; Robert Stevens Freeman (Ann) of Waban, Massachusetts; and Kendrick Freeman (Guilaine) of Sonoma, California; his grandchildren, Christopher Beall, Jeffrey Beall (Sherri), Eric Freeman, Meredith Freeman; his great-grandchildren, Hannah and Duncan Beall; his sisters, Jeanne Freeman Williams of Burlington, North Carolina, and Martha Freeman Brewer of Greensboro, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews. His extended step-family: Kathleen Lewis (Cliff), Dennis Kelly (Debbie), Timothy Kelly (Stacey), Colleen Edwards (Craig), Michael Kelly (Lisa), Patrick Kelly, Eileen Stephens (Matt); grandchildren Erik, Marcus, and Troy Edwards; Ashley, Michael, and Amanda Kelly; Brianna Kelly, Dustin and Emily Stephens; and Zachary Kelly; and great-grandson Justin Sexton Jr. The memorial service was held at St. Paul Lutheran Church on 701 S. Pleasant Avenua in Lodi on Friday, June 22, at 11:00 a.m. A second memorial service was held at Amicable Congregational Church in Tiverton, Rhode Island, with burial in Hillside Cemetery, Tiverton. Donations may be made in Bill’s name to Lodi Salvation Army or to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lodi, California.