Melvin Robert Freier

Melvin was born on a farm in southeastern South Dakota, near Delmont on January 14, 1926. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Emma Freier, and a sister Dolores Brosz.. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Dorothy Jean Tyler Freier of Lubbock, brother Maynard Freier from Minneapolis, daughter Patty Freier of Lubbock, son Kent Freier of Los Lunas, NM, and two granddaughters Tayna and Tara Freier of Albuquerque.

Melvin’s Grandfather Phillip, immigrated from Germany and Russia in search of tillable land. When Melvin was in the eighth grade at the age of 14, he left school to run the family farm for his father. Melvin ran this farm until 1960 when he sold the farm and moved the family to Artesia, NM.

Melvin joined the US Army at the age of 18, during World War II. He served as a guard at the Nuremberg trials due to his fluency in German.

In Artesia, Melvin found employment at Central Valley Electric (CVE), a rural electric cooperative and spent 30 years there surveying power lines to rural ranches and oil well locations. Melvin retired in 1990 and moved to Las Cruces and then to Lubbock.

Melvin was a Little League coach and manager. He was a member of the Elks Club and Moose Lodge in Artesia. He is a past president of the Lion’s Club in Artesia and loved collecting used eyeglasses which were donated to needy children.

Services will be at the Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 West 19th Street, Lubbock, TX 79407, on July 5, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Viewing will be on July 4, 2012 from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium, Austin Community Foundation, P.O. Box 5159, Austin, TX 78763.