Charles Elbert Freeman

CRIDERSVILLE: Charles Elbert Freeman passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at Otterbein Senior Life in Cridersville, OH. He was 97.
Charlie was born on July 17, 1927, in Galena, Kansas, to parents Wilbert & Edith (Richey) Freeman. In 1946, he graduated from high school in Harrison, Arkansas, and then proudly served his country by joining the US Army. While enlisted, he worked as an electrician on the Hungarian front near Trieste, Italy, and was honorably discharged in 1948, receiving the WWII Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal.
After returning home from the military, Charlie attended Arkansas Polytechnic College, transferred to the University of Arkansas in the fall of 1950, and graduated in 1952 with a B.S.A. Degree. He began his first teaching job in the small town of St. Joe, Arkansas, and taught there until 1954. The following year, he taught at Mt. Vernon, Arkansas.
Charlie moved with his young family to Ohio in 1955 and began teaching Vocational Agriculture and Shop at Botkins High School. By 1963, Charlie was a single father with 2 boys and met Kathleen Egbert Headings who had 3 children of her own. The couple married on August 23, 1963, and became a blended family. They were married for 59 years until Kathleen's passing in December of 2022.
In 1975, Charlie left Botkins High School to teach Ag Business at the Upper Valley Joint Vocational School in Piqua, Ohio. He retired from teaching in 1987. Charlie and Kathleen continued to live in Botkins, where he enjoyed taking drives around the area to check out the local crops.
In his spare time, Charlie was active in the Botkins community. He was a member of the Botkins Methodist Church where he was involved in various church committees, which included the committee to install an elevator in the church. He was a prominent member of the committee that built the Botkins Swimming Pool. Charlie earned his Pilot's and Pilot Instructor's Licenses and purchased small-engine planes to use for teaching and renting to other pilots.
After retirement, Charlie and Kathleen traveled to Leesburg, Florida for their winters. They enjoyed their friends, playing pool, cards & marbles, fishing, and eating out.
Charlie is remembered for his sharp memory and his witty stories.
Charlie is survived by his children Yvonne (Edward) George of Vonore, TN, Pamela Buirley of Mt. Vernon, OH, Robert (Jean) Freeman of Dallas, TX, and Kevin (Margaret) Headings of Sidney; his 11 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Charlie was preceded in death by his wife Kathleen Freeman; son William Freeman; granddaughter Mallory Headings; son-in-law Michael Buirley; his step-father Edgar L. Fullerton, and his siblings Herman Freeman and Edna Valentine.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in the Otterbein Cridersville Community Room, 100 Red Oak Drive, Cridersville, OH, with a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. A private family burial will take place in Willow Grove Cemetery.
Contributions in Charlie's memory may be made to the Community Foundation of Shelby County, (Ck Memo: Chase Fultz Botkins FFA Memorial Scholarship), 100 S Main St. Suite 303, Sidney OH 45365 or Otterbein Cridersville (Ck Memo: C Freeman-Fountain Proj.), 100 Red Oak Drive, Cridersville, OH, 45806.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Charlie's family and encourages you to share a memory or condolence to them at SnyderFuneralHomes.com