David James Freeman

David James Freeman, 91, passed from this life on Sunday, March 15, 2015, at his home in Bellaire, Texas. David was born in Chicago on June 23, 1923, to Olive Williams Freeman and Nicholas Edward Freeman. He attended Bud Long Elementary and Lane Tech High School. In 1943, he joined the Army Air Corps and trained as a navigator. He was assigned to the 450th Bomb Group, 721st squadron in Manduria, Italy and flew 50 missions. Following the war, David remained in the Air Force Reserves until he retired after 30 years with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His service in the military had a profound influence on him and yielded friendships that lasted his entire life.

David moved to Houston after the war to be near his mother and brother. Despite having not completed high school, he scored well on university entrance exams and enrolled in the University of Houston. He graduated in 1953 with a degree in petroleum engineering and went to work for Gulf Oil. He soon joined Tennessee Gas, where he worked in the gas reserves department until his retirement in 1988.

David was a loving father and grandfather, a loyal and steadfast friend. He was a protector, constantly on alert to prevent anything that could harm his family. He had an Irish temper that mellowed over the years, and a wry sense of humor that never waned. Although David would never have identified himself as a “tree hugger”, he was a genuine conservationist who was recycling 30 years before the green movement. He had a soft spot in his heart for animals of all kinds, be it cats, dogs, squirrels or a cat food-stealing possum. He was a true jack of all trades. He could rebuild an engine, frame a house, navigate by the stars, and make killer potato pancakes. He was a perfectionist who took pride in his work. It seemed like there was nothing David couldn’t do, and he freely donated his talents to anyone who needed help. He didn’t like being idle and usually had multiple projects going on at the same time. One of the cruelest aspects of his failing health was that it deprived him of the joy of work.

David is preceded in death by his wife Sally, his brother Jack Freeman, his daughter Lana Young, and his grandchildren Laura Pritchett and Sam Adams. He is survived by his children, Linda Idies and husband Ismail, Cynthia Freeman, John Freeman, Diane Freeman and husband Cole Robinson, his grandchildren, Virginia Taylor and husband Michael, Jennifer Fails and husband Dominic, John Osenbaugh, Dustin Robinson, Rachel Freeman, and Cassie Robinson, and his great grandchildren. The family extends heartfelt thanks to Debbie Chavez, Elizabeth Martinez, Cynthia Tristan, Monika Brown, and Laura Leija for the compassionate care they provided to David.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 23rd at Earthman Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris St., Bellaire, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org