Geoffrey Freeman - Obituary

*FUNERAL MASS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER. Geoffrey (Geoff) B. Freeman, Jr. of Easton, MD, died on February 3, 2010 at his residence, from complications due to a long term illness. Born in Wilmington, DE, on August 10, 1921 and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Geoff was preceded in death by his parents Geoffrey B. Freeman, Sr., and Ethel Grey Freeman, along with his sister Anne. Geoff enlisted in the US Marine Corps on December 8, 1941 the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, trained at Parris Island and was selected to continue as a drill instructor for two years until volunteering to deploy with the Marines to the South Pacific. After shipping out in December 1944, he made the amphibious landing at Guadalcanal with the 4th Marine Regiment, “The Marine Raiders”, and as a result, was awarded his first Purple Heart. Geoff then participated in the amphibious assault of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He earned a second Purple Heart in June of 1945, after being shot by a sniper. Upon his return to the United States, Geoff began a 50 year career in cemetery sales, consulting and management after a brief stint as a radio announcer with WMOB, Mobile AL, and WBIG, Greensboro, NC. After selling his cemetery business in Hagerstown, MD in 2000, Geoff retired to Easton, MD. An avid reader with keen interests in history, current events and politics, Geoff was also an artist with a focus in watercolor drawings of eastern shore landscapes, waterfowl and still life. He was a member of the St. Andrew Society of the Eastern Shore who was known for his commanding presence and was truly a “Marine's Marine”. Geoff is survived by his wife of 24 years, Susan Dawson Freeman of Easton, MD; two sons, Geoffrey B. Freeman III, and Richard Freeman, Sr., both of Greencastle, PA; two stepsons, Terry Rush, of Fox Hill, NJ and Peter J. Mueller, of Annapolis, MD; two step daughters, Elaine M. Shanley and Jodi M. Hair, both of Annapolis, MD and 11 grandchildren. Friends may call at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Tuesday, February 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Interment Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, February 18, at 10:00 AM. (Please meet at the Administration Building at 9:30AM.) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Geoff's name to the Navy- Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 North Randolph St., Ste. 225, Arlington, VA 22203.