Freddie August Dewald was born in a farmhouse on October 4, 1926, to Henry J. and Pauline (Weiss) Dewald , on the land that his grandfather had homesteaded in 1884 in Copperas Cove, Texas. A lifelong member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove, a Master Mason of the Copperas Cove Lodge for over a half century, and founding member of VFW, Freddie was a devout Christian and advocate of the teachings of Masonry. Freddie passed away at his home in Waco on March 2, 2013.
He was raised on the family farm and graduated Valedictorian of his class at Copperas Cove High School in 1944. He was very involved in the six man football team beginning his freshman year, and went on to play quarterback his senior year. Upon graduating from high school Freddie voluntarily joined the Navy at 17 to fight in World War II alongside his brother, Henry, and sister, Margaret, who were also in the navy. He saw active duty in the American Area Campaign and the Asiatic -Pacific Area, receiving medals for his participation in both. He proudly served as a Signalman First Class on the USS LST 681 in the South Pacific. When the War ended he received the World War II Victory Medal, and was honorably discharged from the navy on March 23, 1946. Freddie built lifelong friendships with his shipmates and continued those friendships through the years, attending LST 681 reunions and corresponding with his navy buddies. One of his proudest times was when he visited the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and was able to view the registry and see his name, the name of his brother and sister, and the names of his shipmates. The next day, Former U.S. Congressman Chet Edwards greeted him, thanked him for his service, and honored him by personally escorting him into the White House.
After the War, he returned home and began farming with his father. After a few years of farming, he decided to further his education and used his GI Bill for trade school training. He began farming part time and working full time first as a trim carpenter, and then moved on to iron working which he pursued for the next 15 years. During this time he was a member of the Austin Iron Workers Local Union 482. While a member, Freddie worked on projects throughout Texas including many buildings at Fort Hood, the original Palmer Auditorium in Austin, and the Coliseum in Lubbock. After that he worked as an ironworker for DuPont Chemical Company on the Savannah River Project in Aiken, South Carolina.
Freddie returned home in 1953 when his grandmother died and bought the original homesteaded farm where he was raised. He again farmed part time and continued iron work until 1962 at which time he retired from iron working and began working full time at Dewald Mobile Service Station which he had built with his father, Henry Dewald, in 1958. He continued working there until his retirement in 1989 at which time he sold the business to his son Glen Dewald who continues to operate it today.
As a successful businessman in Copperas Cove, he proudly worked with the business community to help further the success of the economic growth of Copperas Cove helping to make it become a comfortable and nice place to live. In 1970 he was elected to the City Council of Copperas Cove with a large majority vote, and served on the council two terms until 1974. During his time on the City Council he worked hard with the City Council to bring about a new and modern city library and was instrumental in bringing about the approval for the municipal golf course for Copperas Cove which today still stands as a major recreational feature for the city of Copperas Cove. After his terms on the City Council, he continued to work in the Community to further the economic growth and the pleasant living standard of Copperas Cove.
Freddie, a lifelong sports enthusiast, was always involved in local sporting events as a participant, a sponsor, and a spectator. Through the years he sponsored many local sporting teams, including Little League, Soccer, Bowling, and Baseball. He was very involved in bowling for more than 40 years, bowling on numerous local leagues. He went on to bowl in state and national tournaments including regional Pro-Am events, and was on the Board of Directors of the Killeen-Fort Hood Men’s Bowling Association. He was one of the first league bowlers to bowl a 700 series at King’s Bowling Center in Copperas Cove.
After retirement he started playing golf and was one of the first players out on the Copperas Cove Municipal Golf Course every day. He had several golf buddies that he played with avidly on golf courses throughout Central Texas. One of his favorite experiences was playing golf on the Hawaiian Islands, and one of his proudest golfing achievements was sinking two holes-in-one, both in 1991.
Freddie is preceded in death by his parents Henry J. and Pauline (Weiss) Dewald, sister Margaret Hanson, brother Henry Dewald, nephew Michael Hanson, and granddaughter Paula Cawthon.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 37 years Becky, loyal lap companion Chichi; sons Fred Dewald and wife Suzanne, Glen Dewald and wife Cheryl, Wesley Dewald and wife Jacqueline; daughters Kathryn Sublett and husband Joe, Gretchen Altum and husband Tommy, Heidi Rivers and husband Dan, Kimberly Dewald; grandchildren Joanna Dewald, Paul Altum, Chris Altum and wife Angie, Lissa Polmanteer and husband Jason, Jennifer Burns, Julie Walker and husband David, Brent Dewald and wife Daina, Brad Dewald, Krista Dewald, Kaitlyn Lawler, Marlee Williams, Alexia Dewald, great-grandchildren Matthew Cawthon, Michael Cawthon, Brandon Cawthon, Karen Cawthon, Angelo Altum, Lia Altum, Caden Polmanteer, Dillion Polmanteer, Nic Burns, AJ Burns, Kynsley England, Stryker Walker, Shelby Dewald, Jacob Dewald, Zain Smith; sister-in-law Nancy Dewald; nephew Richard Dewald.
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