W. Marvin Freed went home to his Lord and Savior on Sunday morning, July 29, 2012, at the Gatehouse (Hospice Unit) in Williamsport, Pa. He had served for 47 years in pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church.
Pastor Freed was born May 15, 1927, in Walker, W.Va., to George E. and Myrtle Buckner Freed. He was licensed to preach in 1944 and graduated from Parkersburg (W.Va.) High School in 1945. From 1946 to 1960, he served six different charges in the WV Conference of the Methodist Church. While attending seminary, he served in the Baltimore Conference. From 1962 until his retirement in 1992, he served in the Central PA Conference at Ramey, Lemont, Axeman-Weaver, and Yeagertown/Rhodes Memorial. After retirement, he served for one year at Gaines (Pine Creek Valley Charge).
Rev. Freed graduated from Fairmont State College with a B.A. degree in 1959. He would earn his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary (DC) in 1963.
Rev. Freed had a heart for evangelism and biblical preaching. He was a diligent pastor, well-loved by each church he served. He also worked at a variety of other jobs to support his family including working in radio, a variety of department stores, and as a campus patrolman at the Pennsylvania State University. He loved baseball and football, following the Pittsburg Pirates in the summer and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the PSU Nittany Lions, and the WV Mountaineers in the fall. In the past few years, he could be seen at local Williamsport Crosscutters games.
Pastor Freed loved his family. He is survived by three sons, Larry (Sharon) Freed of Williamsport, Pa., Wayne Freed of Tipton, Pa., and Richard (Sharon) Freed of Bowling Green, Ky.; seven grandchildren, Brian (Janelle) Freed of Dillsburg, Pa., Christy (Dave) Hall of Williamsport, Pa., Shawn (Carrie Jo) Freed of Syracuse, N.Y., Amy (Wade) Stubanas of State College, Pa., Teresa (Mark) McCarty of Albany, N.Y., Melissa Freed of State College, Pa., and Adam Freed of Bowling Green, Ky. He particularly loved and took pride in his eight great-grandchildren, Colin McCarty of Albany, N.Y., Joseph, Nathaniel and Isaac Freed of Dillsburg, Pa., Eva, Felicity and Gabe Hall of Williamsport, Pa., and Bella Freed of Syracuse, N.Y. Rev. Freed also has two surviving sisters, Evelyn Stutler from Ohio and a twin sister, Marjorie States, living in Missouri.
Rev. Freed's memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. at the Fillmore United Methodist Church, Bellefonte, Pa., with several pastors assisting in the service. Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. Also, friends and family may visit prior to the memorial services from 10 to 11:30 p.m. All visitation will be at the Fillmore United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Meyers Cemetery, Bellefonte, Pa.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc., Bellefonte, Pa.
