FREEMAN, WILLARD EUGENE Born June 28, 1928 in Hubbard, Texas to Basil and Annie Mae Freeman and passed away in Heath, Texas on November 27, 2005. He lived in the Farmers Branch area for 50 years and moved to Heath, Texas in 1990. Mr. Freeman graduated from Carrollton High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Philippine Islands and was honorably discharged in 1948. He was employed at Foremost Dairies for six years and joined the Dallas Fire Department in 1954 where he remained employed for 31 years and retired as captain in 1986. He was a member of the Dallas Retired Firefighters Association and spoke often of the fine firefighters he had the pleasure of working with during his active career. He attended First Baptist Church of Heath and was a 32nd Degree Mason, Love Field Masonic Lodge. Mr. Freeman was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother B. W. Freeman and sisters Imogene Whitehead and Dixie Hayden. He is survived by his loving and caring wife of 53 years, Helen Smirl Freeman and daughters, Pamela Freeman Koch of Rowlett, Texas and Rhonda Freeman Turner and Mark Turner of Highland Village, Texas, granddaughters Lindsay Leigh Koch and Chelsea Marie Turner. Services 10:00 AM Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at Restland Memorial Chapel. Interment Restland Memorial Park. Family to receive friends from 6-8 PM Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at Restland Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038.

The Dallas Morning News - November 29, 2005
Submitted by Betty Lou (Stanley) Dennis

   Willard Eugene Freeman joined the Dallas Fire Department to have a schedule that allowed him to look for a better job than the one he had delivering milk. Instead of a bridge to another occupation, he found a 31-year career. He retired in January 1986 as a captain.
   Mr. Freeman, 77, died Sunday at his home in Heath. Doctors diagnosed pancreatitis in September, his family said.
   Services are set for 10 a.m. today at Restland Funeral Home's Memorial Chapel in Dallas. He will be buried at Restland Memorial Park.
   "He was devoted to his family," said his wife, Helen Smirl Freeman of Heath.
   Born in Hubbard, Texas, Mr. Freeman and his family moved frequently during his childhood, especially during the Great Depression, his wife said.
   "He grew up mostly in Dallas; there were times when he'd go to six schools in one year," Mrs. Freeman said.
   His family settled on Denton Drive in Carrollton, where Mr. Freeman graduated from high school in 1946.
   He served in Navy and was stationed in the Philippines, his wife said.
   After being honorably discharged in 1948, Mr. Freeman came home to Dallas, where he delivered milk for Foremost Dairies for about six years.
   In 1954, he joined the Dallas Fire Department, initially hoping to use his firefighter's hours to find a job he liked better.
   "Then two kids came along, and he couldn't afford to quit his job," his wife said. "He just stayed on and started studying and worked his way up."
   Mr. Freeman worked all over Dallas until he made captain. He then worked at Station No. 43 on Lombardy Lane and served the last eight years of his career at Station No. 21 at Love Field.
   "He liked the camaraderie of the people he worked with," his wife said. "They had good times when they weren't fighting fires."
   Mr. Freeman moved to Heath in 1990. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Love Field Masonic Lodge.
   In addition to his wife, Mr. Freeman is survived by two daughters, Pamela Freeman Koch of Rowlett and Rhonda Freeman Turner of Highland Village; and two grand-children.
   Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, Va. 22038.

The Dallas Morning News

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