Derrell Rucker Freese was born May 23, 1925, in Richmond, Virginia, the last of 5 sons born to Henry Maynard Freeze and Mary Linnie Martin. Although he was born in Richmond, he moved to Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland, at the age of 6 months and spent most of his childhood there. When he was about 10 years old, his father left home and he went with his mother and brother, Robert, to live with his grandmother, Emma Alice (Sigmund) Martin. After she passed away in 1940, he left Thurmont with his mother and went to Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, to live with his brother, Harold, and his family. He later moved to Takoma Park, Montgomery County, Maryland, where he met my mother, Mary Jane Parsons.
Obituary for Derrell Rucker Freese written by me:
"DERRELL RUCKER FREESE. Derrell Rucker Freese, of Takoma Park, Maryland, passed away at the Sligo Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday afternoon, September 16, 2009, at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 24 days. Derrell was born May 23, 1925 in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. He was the son of the late Henry Maynard and Mary Linnie Martin Freese. He was the husband of Mary Jane Parsons Freese for 49 years, the father of Scott David (Cynthia) Freese of Pfafftown, North Carolina, and Gregg Derrell (Amy) Freese of Conakry, Guinea, West Africa; and the grandfather of Matthew Joshua and Stephen Benjamin Freese of Pfafftown, and Andrew Christian, Daniel Joseph and Rachel Hope Freese of Conakry. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Richard (Betty) Parsons of Florida, and John (Susanne) Parsons of Utah, and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Kenneth, Harold, Victor and Robert. Derrell graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the summer of 1943, having been a member of an accelerated class of summer students who graduated early in order to serve their country during the 2nd World War. He served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy in Guam until 1946. After returning to his homeland, Derrell was employed as an Inventory Management Specialist for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, retiring in 1987 after 41 years. For 15 years, he also worked as a Security Guard at the American College of Cardiology in Bethesda, retiring again in 2000. After that, he volunteered at the Takoma Park Food Co-op for 5 years. In 1950, Derrell became a Charter Member of Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and served the church as a deacon and a trustee for many years. As his sons were growing up, he also volunteered in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Little League Baseball. He also loved to bowl, visit relatives and places of interest with his family, and enjoyed attending professional games of any sport. A Memorial Service was held on Monday, September 21, 2009, at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Silver Spring, led by Rev. Connie Stinson, assisted by Rev. James Langley and Rev. Gary Javens."
Obituary for Derrell Rucker Freese written by me:
"DERRELL RUCKER FREESE. Derrell Rucker Freese, of Takoma Park, Maryland, passed away at the Sligo Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday afternoon, September 16, 2009, at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 24 days. Derrell was born May 23, 1925 in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. He was the son of the late Henry Maynard and Mary Linnie Martin Freese. He was the husband of Mary Jane Parsons Freese for 49 years, the father of Scott David (Cynthia) Freese of Pfafftown, North Carolina, and Gregg Derrell (Amy) Freese of Conakry, Guinea, West Africa; and the grandfather of Matthew Joshua and Stephen Benjamin Freese of Pfafftown, and Andrew Christian, Daniel Joseph and Rachel Hope Freese of Conakry. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Richard (Betty) Parsons of Florida, and John (Susanne) Parsons of Utah, and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Kenneth, Harold, Victor and Robert. Derrell graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the summer of 1943, having been a member of an accelerated class of summer students who graduated early in order to serve their country during the 2nd World War. He served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy in Guam until 1946. After returning to his homeland, Derrell was employed as an Inventory Management Specialist for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, retiring in 1987 after 41 years. For 15 years, he also worked as a Security Guard at the American College of Cardiology in Bethesda, retiring again in 2000. After that, he volunteered at the Takoma Park Food Co-op for 5 years. In 1950, Derrell became a Charter Member of Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and served the church as a deacon and a trustee for many years. As his sons were growing up, he also volunteered in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Little League Baseball. He also loved to bowl, visit relatives and places of interest with his family, and enjoyed attending professional games of any sport. A Memorial Service was held on Monday, September 21, 2009, at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Silver Spring, led by Rev. Connie Stinson, assisted by Rev. James Langley and Rev. Gary Javens."
Derrell Rucker Freese was born May 23, 1925, in Richmond, Virginia, the last of 5 sons born to Henry Maynard Freeze and Mary Linnie Martin. Although he was born in Richmond, he moved to Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland, at the age of 6 months and spent most of his childhood there. When he was about 10 years old, his father left home and he went with his mother and brother, Robert, to live with his grandmother, Emma Alice (Sigmund) Martin. After she passed away in 1940, he left Thurmont with his mother and went to Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, to live with his brother, Harold, and his family. He later moved to Takoma Park, Montgomery County, Maryland, where he met my mother, Mary Jane Parsons.
Obituary for Derrell Rucker Freese written by me:
"DERRELL RUCKER FREESE. Derrell Rucker Freese, of Takoma Park, Maryland, passed away at the Sligo Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday afternoon, September 16, 2009, at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 24 days. Derrell was born May 23, 1925 in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. He was the son of the late Henry Maynard and Mary Linnie Martin Freese. He was the husband of Mary Jane Parsons Freese for 49 years, the father of Scott David (Cynthia) Freese of Pfafftown, North Carolina, and Gregg Derrell (Amy) Freese of Conakry, Guinea, West Africa; and the grandfather of Matthew Joshua and Stephen Benjamin Freese of Pfafftown, and Andrew Christian, Daniel Joseph and Rachel Hope Freese of Conakry. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Richard (Betty) Parsons of Florida, and John (Susanne) Parsons of Utah, and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Kenneth, Harold, Victor and Robert. Derrell graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the summer of 1943, having been a member of an accelerated class of summer students who graduated early in order to serve their country during the 2nd World War. He served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy in Guam until 1946. After returning to his homeland, Derrell was employed as an Inventory Management Specialist for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, retiring in 1987 after 41 years. For 15 years, he also worked as a Security Guard at the American College of Cardiology in Bethesda, retiring again in 2000. After that, he volunteered at the Takoma Park Food Co-op for 5 years. In 1950, Derrell became a Charter Member of Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and served the church as a deacon and a trustee for many years. As his sons were growing up, he also volunteered in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Little League Baseball. He also loved to bowl, visit relatives and places of interest with his family, and enjoyed attending professional games of any sport. A Memorial Service was held on Monday, September 21, 2009, at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Silver Spring, led by Rev. Connie Stinson, assisted by Rev. James Langley and Rev. Gary Javens."
Obituary for Derrell Rucker Freese written by me:
"DERRELL RUCKER FREESE. Derrell Rucker Freese, of Takoma Park, Maryland, passed away at the Sligo Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday afternoon, September 16, 2009, at the age of 84 years, 3 months and 24 days. Derrell was born May 23, 1925 in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. He was the son of the late Henry Maynard and Mary Linnie Martin Freese. He was the husband of Mary Jane Parsons Freese for 49 years, the father of Scott David (Cynthia) Freese of Pfafftown, North Carolina, and Gregg Derrell (Amy) Freese of Conakry, Guinea, West Africa; and the grandfather of Matthew Joshua and Stephen Benjamin Freese of Pfafftown, and Andrew Christian, Daniel Joseph and Rachel Hope Freese of Conakry. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Richard (Betty) Parsons of Florida, and John (Susanne) Parsons of Utah, and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Kenneth, Harold, Victor and Robert. Derrell graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the summer of 1943, having been a member of an accelerated class of summer students who graduated early in order to serve their country during the 2nd World War. He served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy in Guam until 1946. After returning to his homeland, Derrell was employed as an Inventory Management Specialist for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, retiring in 1987 after 41 years. For 15 years, he also worked as a Security Guard at the American College of Cardiology in Bethesda, retiring again in 2000. After that, he volunteered at the Takoma Park Food Co-op for 5 years. In 1950, Derrell became a Charter Member of Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and served the church as a deacon and a trustee for many years. As his sons were growing up, he also volunteered in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Little League Baseball. He also loved to bowl, visit relatives and places of interest with his family, and enjoyed attending professional games of any sport. A Memorial Service was held on Monday, September 21, 2009, at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Silver Spring, led by Rev. Connie Stinson, assisted by Rev. James Langley and Rev. Gary Javens."
