Sol Freed

Sol Freed (12-1-1928-11-12-2023) has passed away following a brief illness, just shy of his 95th birthday. Sol was born in Dallas, the fourth child of Dave and Eva Freed. He was a graduate of Forest High School, where he was a varsity tennis player and all-around athlete. Following high school graduation, he attended Texas A&M University before leaving school to join his father and siblings in the business that became Freed Furniture Company.

In 1950 he married his childhood sweetheart, Doris Barish Freed, and began a loving marriage that lasted 71 years until her passing in 2021. Shortly after their marriage, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in Korea and Japan. He was proud of his service, but happy to get back to Dallas and Doris.

He served in virtually every capacity inside Freed’s Furniture including a stint as president of the company, but all that he ever really wanted to do was sell, and usually deliver, furniture. From the early 1950’s through the mid 1990’s he was probably the most prolific salesman of furniture in Dallas history. He was the go to person for home furnishings.

While he was encouraged to join and serve on numerous boards, both for profit enterprises, as well as non-profits, he never had the patience or attention for them. He was totally consumed with building Freed’s, and making customers happy.

In the late 1960’s, he and his next door neighbor began buying ranch land in Northwest Colorado. This became the impetus for what is now T-Slash-Bar Ranches in Bexar and Medina Counties. While never an outdoorsman, the ranches instilled a passion for the outdoors and Western way of life for his son and Eagle Scout grandsons.

In the early 1970’s, he encouraged his brother-in-law, Marvin Barish, to leave his existing career and purchase a small outdoor furniture retailer in Houston, The Chair King. He was extremely proud to see Chair King grow into the largest specialty retailer of its kind in the U.S.

Following the sale of his interests in both Freed’s and Chair King in the mid 1990’s, his semi- retirement consisted of establishing a personal office in the Market Center area where he continued to help his friends and customers source home furnishings, as well as selectively provide inventory to multiple furniture consignment retailers. We estimate that he placed some 10,000 pieces of furniture to consignment stores.

He was proceeded in death by his Wife, Parents, and Siblings. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Billy and Cheryl, of San Antonio; his grandsons Tyler (wife Leslie) of Houston, and Russell of NYC. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to recognize and thank his physician, Dr. Phillip Aronoff, his trusted assistant Norma Cummings, his caregiver, Jean Watson, and the caregivers of FMS Blessed and Helping Hands.

A Memorial Service and Reception will take place at 2:30, Wednesday, November 15th, at Congregation Shearith Israel, 9401 Douglas Ave.. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Congregation Shearith Israel, The San Antonio Zoological Society, The Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Freed family.