William A. "Tim" Free, 84, of West Orange, died Saturday, April 25, 2009 at his home.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., at McDonald Memorial Baptist Church in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Danny Gillum.
Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.
Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.
Tim was born in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana on October 22, 1924. He is the son of Henry Frank and Lerline Blankenship Free. Tim worked for Marathon Oil Company for 33 years. He was a member of McDonald Memorial Baptist Church. Tim was a WWII Veteran where he served in the Army. His accommodations included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other medals for service to his county. Tim loved being outdoors, gardening, fishing and singing. He loved his wife of 60 years, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, James Free, John Free, Leslie Free; sisters, Anice Free and Sadie Gates; sons-in-law, Jim Boatman and Wil Leonard.
He is survived by his wife, Norma Free; son, Bill Free and his wife Susan of Crystal Beach; daughters, Gail Eads and her husband Kenneth of Orange, and Kim Leonard of Orange; grandchildren, Kyle Free, Kelly Free, Chad Boatman, Krystle Leonard, Lance Eads, Brittany Leonard; great-grandchildren, Jared Free, Ryan Free, Bryleigh Grace Moore and Landon Hunter Eads; and brothers, Franklin Free of Sulpher, LA, and Melton Free of Pleasant Hill, LA.