Harry Herbert Freid

DECEMBER 21, 1918 - JULY 3, 2006
Mr. Harry Herbert Freid, 87, Weldon, NC native and life long merchant died at Silver Stream Nursing and Rehab Center in Wilmington, NC. Hewas also recently a resident of Brightmore of Wilmington. Harry was born in Weldon, NC where he was an active member of the community. He was owner of Freids Department Store in Weldon and founder of Freids Mens Wear in Roanoke Rapids, NC. He had a true talent for style and a sincere love for his employees and customers. Harry lived by the motto that his father taught him early in life that it costs nothing to be nice to people. He never met a stranger and always greeted people with kindness and a smile. Above all, he strived to impact everyone he met in a positive> way. He was a very active member of Temple Emanu-El in Weldon, one of the few remaining members attending Friday night services when the congregation was recently forced to close due to the lack of local members. He was a member of Bnai Brith, The Weldon Lions Club, The 1918 Club and Stalag Luft, III Former Prisoners of War Group. Harry enjoyed gardening, golf, tennis, photography, traveling, pulling for the UNC Tarheels and supplying friends and family with homemade dill pickles. His home was always open for family gatherings and holidays. Those remaining will forever cherish these memories. Harry along with his wife Evelyn and sister Fennie established a scholarship at Halifax Community College to benefit the nursing program and to help support the community that gave them so much. After enlistingin the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, Mr. Freid was shot down over Budapest while serving as a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator. He was taken by German forces as a Prisoner of War. He was held captive in the German POW camp Stalag Luft, III until liberated by Pattons army at the end of the war. Stalag Luft, III was depicted in the movie The Great Escape.
Mr. Freid is survived by his daughters, Deborah Debbie Freid Cowen and husband Bob of Wilmington, Miriam Mimi Freid Cook and husbandDavid of Raleigh; grandchildren, Haley and Molly Cowen of Wilmington and Kevin and Mitchell Cook of Raleigh; sister, IsabelleFreid Vatz of Charlotte; nieces, Susan Bloom Farber and husband Ted of Rockville, MD, Jane Vatz Abel of Charlotte and Helen Bloom of Jackson; nephews, Daniel Coblenz and wife Nancy of Charlotte and Morris Vatz and wife Mary of MD; great nieces and great nephews, Lisa and Sandy Farber of MD, Leslie Farber Whitson of NJ, Philip Coblenz and wife Stacie, Craig Coblenz and wife Erica, Naomi and Alissa Abel, all of Charlotte.
Harry was very proud of his entire family and had a special bond with each and every one of them. The love he shared with Robert and Sandra Brown and his entire business family was equally passionate. Mr. Freid was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Rosa Freid; his beloved wife of 45 years, Evelyn Goldblatt Freid; sisters Josephine Fennie Freid, Lillian Freid Bloom and Florence Freid Coblenz; brothers-in-law, Harry Vatz and Filmore Coblenz and nephew, Howard Bloom.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Wrenn Funeral Home, 1015 West 5th Street, Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Funeral services will be officiated by Rabbi Ben Romer at Wrenn Funeral Home, Friday at 11:00 a.m. with graveside services following at Cedarwood Cemetery in Roanoke Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Harry, Evelyn and Josephine Freid Scholarship Fund, Halifax Community College Foundation, Inc., 200 College Drive, Weldon, NC 27890 or charity of ones choice.