George Elton Freestone |
| Posted 2009-12-16 by Sharla |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona February 11, 2003 George Elton Freestone of Tempe was born July 28, 1898 and passed away on February 8, 2003 in Mesa at the age of 104. He was born in Safford, Arizona to a pioneer family and was the 2nd child of seven. His parents were George Leonard and Lottie Packer Freestone. George was preceded in death by his first wife, Vergil Glover, (married 62 years) and his second wife Mary Elizabeth Barrows (married 18 years) -- a total of 80 happy years! He was also preceded in death by his son, Earl. Surviving are his daughters Lottie Burk of Tempe, Lorraine Dickerson of Tucson and Jeannine (Forrest) Anderson of El Paso, Texas. He has 30 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great grandchildren. He also has one living brother, John Freestone of Gilbert. His posterity along with the many nephews, nieces, and cousins loved and revered George and were well beloved by him. George farmed in Safford and in Gilbert with a short time spent in Los Angeles where he joined one of the first Boy Scout Troops in America, built (and crashed) a glider plane, taught people how to drive after school at his father's driving school, which was the first in Los Angeles. Back in Arizona he again farmed the land in Gilbert. In 1937 he was hired by the Farm Home Administration and worked there where he became the State Director in 1963 and then retired in 1968 at the age of 70. He aided many farmers and Native Americans in rural areas all over Arizona. George wrote and maintained a beautiful history of his life and maintained a daily journal until he was 103. His retirement years were also kept active by traveling, serving, and becoming known as the Oldest Living Boy Scout. He served as an example for good to his family, the community and hundreds of Boy Scouts throughout the United States. He spoke at many scouting activities and Courts of Honor as young men became Eagle Scouts presenting them with his own handmade ceramic eagles. He was a faithful life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be held at Bunker's Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way in Mesa on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 from 6-8:00 P.M., (also one hour prior to services at the church). Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 at 10:00 A.M., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tempe Ward, 1221 W. Howe St., Tempe, AZ. That is at the corner of Beck and Howe, which is just southeast of University Dr., and Priest. Interment will follow at the City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St., Mesa, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LDS General Mission Fund of the Boy Scouts of America. (Obit: Courtesy of Pat Wilson) See Also: Find A Grave |
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