Charles was born September 21, 1924 in Union, MS, a son to the late Charles A. Freeburgh and Mary Mae Shelton Freeburgh. He married Neva Mae “Punkie” Pettes on Feb. 20 1946 at Union, MS. Preceded in death by his parents and wife.
He is survived by his daughter Susan Freeburgh Aycock and husband Bill, son Charles P. Freeburgh and wife Monette, grandchildren Ryan Aycock and wife Susan, Amanda Aycock Gallagher and husband Todd, Wesley Freeburgh and Matt Freeburgh, great-grandchildren William Aycock, Mary Beth Aycock, Sarah Aycock, Maddie Gallagher and Thomas Gallagher.
Charles was a member of the Eastside Baptist Church of Pearl and the John P. Byrd Masonic Lodge No. 629 in Pearl.
Charles enlisted into the Army Air Corp immediately after high school during the height of WWII. While flying B-17’s, his plane was shot down over Germany and was a POW for 18 months. He remained in the Air Force until his retirement in 1963 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and then moved to Pearl, MS and went to work for the Mississippi Air National Guard. He retired from the ANG in July of 1972.
After his military career, Charles began working as an optician for Dr. John H. Mohr in Pearl and he and his wife continued living in Pearl until the spring of 2010 at which time they moved to Baton Rouge, LA.
Charles and his wife loved to dance, beginning with square dancing and progressed to western dancing. They spent so many hours at the western club “Rodeo’s” in Jackson and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there. When Rodeo’s closed, they presented Charles & Neva with “their table” from the club.
Charles was a devoted husband and father, fully exemplified by his care of his wife of 67 years in her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He made many friends at St. James Place in Baton Rouge and was easily recognized by his cowboy hat as he motored around campus.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00pm, Friday, August 26, 2016, at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl.
The family would especially like to thank the dedicated and loving staff at St. James Place in Baton Rouge, LA for their wonderful care and tenderness. They would also like to thank Pastor Ron Harrison and the members of the Eastside Baptist Church for their prayers and visits.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the World War II Museum in New Orleans.
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