JOHN FREELAND

FREELAND, John C., 91, of Sebring, Fla., passed away Friday, July 12, 2011. He was born January 31, 1920, in Maryville, Tenn., to John Jennings and Maude (Smith) Freeland. After graduating from Sebring High School, he left Sebring to play minor league baseball, joined the military and served with the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. He then went back to baseball, where he met his wife and the mother of his children, Shirley B. Freeland, and then went to college where he graduated with a bachelor's degree from Florida Southern College, and received his master's degree from Florida Atlantic University. Coach Freeland returned to his home town and Alma Mater to raise his family and his students. The rest is pretty much history. He was a teacher and coach for 30 plus years, retiring from the Highlands County School Board as principal of Sebring High School in 1986. He was awarded the Florida High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1972, was a member of the Sebring Fireman, Inc., past director of Teen Town, member of First Presbyterian Church of Sebring, and had been a lifelong resident of Sebring. "It was all a matter of pride to Coach. His life revolved around how proud and positive he felt about family and career. He was a leader and a man of sterling character. It all started in 1920 and 91 years later, we still celebrate all those proud and good things. There are many a tale of Coach Freeland roaming the halls constantly moving to stay ahead of the pack. One of the quotes he was famous for is 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.'" He is survived by his daughters, Susan Dalrymple (Jim) of Marathon, Fla., and Kathy L. Martin (Rick) of Guntersville, Ala.; daughter-in-law, Linda Freeland of Sebring; sons, Robert Freeland (Missy) of Sebring, and Eddie Freeland of Lakeland; 10 grand-children; and 4 great- grand-children. He was preceded in death by his wife and the mother of his children, Shirley B. Freeland; son, John W. Freeland; and also his second wife, Veronica Freeland. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church of Sebring, with the Rev. Darrell Peer officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sebring Fireman, Inc. Memorial Fund or the First Presbyterian Church Elder Care Program. Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Sebring, Fla. stephensonnelsonfh.com