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Captain John Edward Freeman, 53, of Kensington, Md., formerly of Augusta, died quietly with his wife by his side on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012.
Interment with full military honors will be held on March 19, 2012, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Third child of Ed and Tokie Freeman, John grew up in Augusta. He ran track and played basketball for Augusta High School, where he maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He came to understand and accept the sacrifice of Christ at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp in Colorado at the age of 17. As a chemistry major at Wichita State University, he continued both his track career and his academic excellence.
John’s dental school classmates at Baylor University College of Dentistry in Dallas included his future wife, Alison Newkirk. They graduated from Baylor in June 1985 and since both families were in Dallas for the graduation, they added their naval commissioning and wedding to the weekend’s festivities. The original plan was to serve in the Navy three years, picking up speed and experience at dentistry and let the Navy pay for their first child. Plans change.
They went from Camp Lejeune, NC to Okinawa, Japan, where their first child was born in 1991. Those years of two incomes and no kids whet John’s appetite for travel. A short tour at Annapolis was followed by orthodontic training at Fort Mead, where Paul was born. Tours at Great Lakes, Ill., and back to Okinawa saw Julia and Daniel join the family. John reached 20 years active duty while in San Antonio, Texas serving at the TORP (Tri-service orthodontic residency). The orthodontic billet at Rosa, Spain was available in 2006; it was too tempting a tour to pass up. When John’s lymphoma was found in 2010, the family was medically evacuated from Spain to Bethesda, Md. to seek treatment.
Throughout his career, John faithfully sought to follow Christ and guide his family to loving relationships with Christ and each other. He served where he saw a need in every community he lived; youth leader, Sunday School teacher, Parenting Ministry, team photographer, basketball coach and swim coach. He thoroughly enjoyed helping his patients to improve their smiles.
Married 26 1/2 years, John delighted in his role as father and husband, and kept those as his highest priority. He once told Alison that life with her was an adventure and they enjoyed wonderful adventures!
John is survived by: his wife, Alison; sons, Stephen, Paul, and Daniel; daughter, Julia; parents, Ed and Tokie Freeman of Augusta; sister, Mary Goodwin of Goddard; brother, Ivan (Rosemary) Freeman of Grant’s Pass, Ore.; several nieces and nephews.
Memorials for his children’s college funds may be sent to: 9812 Hillridge Dr., Kensington, MD 20895-3227.
Captain John Edward Freeman, 53, of Kensington, Md., formerly of Augusta, died quietly with his wife by his side on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012.
Interment with full military honors will be held on March 19, 2012, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Third child of Ed and Tokie Freeman, John grew up in Augusta. He ran track and played basketball for Augusta High School, where he maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He came to understand and accept the sacrifice of Christ at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp in Colorado at the age of 17. As a chemistry major at Wichita State University, he continued both his track career and his academic excellence.
John’s dental school classmates at Baylor University College of Dentistry in Dallas included his future wife, Alison Newkirk. They graduated from Baylor in June 1985 and since both families were in Dallas for the graduation, they added their naval commissioning and wedding to the weekend’s festivities. The original plan was to serve in the Navy three years, picking up speed and experience at dentistry and let the Navy pay for their first child. Plans change.
They went from Camp Lejeune, NC to Okinawa, Japan, where their first child was born in 1991. Those years of two incomes and no kids whet John’s appetite for travel. A short tour at Annapolis was followed by orthodontic training at Fort Mead, where Paul was born. Tours at Great Lakes, Ill., and back to Okinawa saw Julia and Daniel join the family. John reached 20 years active duty while in San Antonio, Texas serving at the TORP (Tri-service orthodontic residency). The orthodontic billet at Rosa, Spain was available in 2006; it was too tempting a tour to pass up. When John’s lymphoma was found in 2010, the family was medically evacuated from Spain to Bethesda, Md. to seek treatment.
Throughout his career, John faithfully sought to follow Christ and guide his family to loving relationships with Christ and each other. He served where he saw a need in every community he lived; youth leader, Sunday School teacher, Parenting Ministry, team photographer, basketball coach and swim coach. He thoroughly enjoyed helping his patients to improve their smiles.
Married 26 1/2 years, John delighted in his role as father and husband, and kept those as his highest priority. He once told Alison that life with her was an adventure and they enjoyed wonderful adventures!
John is survived by: his wife, Alison; sons, Stephen, Paul, and Daniel; daughter, Julia; parents, Ed and Tokie Freeman of Augusta; sister, Mary Goodwin of Goddard; brother, Ivan (Rosemary) Freeman of Grant’s Pass, Ore.; several nieces and nephews.
Memorials for his children’s college funds may be sent to: 9812 Hillridge Dr., Kensington, MD 20895-3227.
