John Freeman

Mr. John Ennis Freeman, of Vestavia, passed away on October 14, 2012 at the age of 87. A military veteran, John joined the Army Air Corp upon graduation from West Jefferson High School in 1943. As a P-51 fighter pilot in World War II, John served with distinction flying bomber escort missions off Iwo Jima. He later saw action in Germany as an Alabama Air Guard reservist. Upon returning home from military service he pursued a successful career as a corrugated packaging designer and salesman. He was founder and partner in two successful corrugated box companies in the B'ham area. He continued his passion for airplanes through his involvement with building and flying remote controlled model airplanes and was instrumental in establishing the Shelby County Model Airplane Club. John combined his passion for family and boating by building a cabin on Smith Lake in 1968. Family and friends have fond memories of times shared on the lake where he taught dozens of young people to ski and could be seen early in the morning cruising his Thompson runabout on glassy waters like he was back in the pilot's seat of his P-51 Mustang, named Ida's Imp after his mother (Ida Freeman). He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, a handyman who was quick to offer a helping hand to neighbors and family with home projects, and as a generous man with a wonderful sense of humor who never met a stranger. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 50 years, Willodean Cost Freeman, in October 2000; and his parents, Ida Ennis Freeman and Thomas DeWeese Freeman of Dora, Alabama. He is survived by his daughters, Vicki Jo Freeman and Joni Freeman Blakney (John); and two grandsons, Freeman Davis Blakney and Jeremy Landon Blakney, all of Birmingham. Visitation will be held at Currie Jefferson Funeral Home in Hoover on Wednesday, October 17th, 2012, from 10-11 AM. A graveside service will follow at 11:00 AM in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South.