Elijah Ernest Freeland, age 85, of Whitehall, WV, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 at Fairmont Regional Medical Center. He was born March 25, 1930 at Glover Gap, WV son of the late Carlie E. and Christine G. Snyder Freeland.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Byard Freeland, to whom he had been married to for 60 years on April 23; a son, Matthew Wayne Freeland and wife Elaine, of Marion IL; a daughter, Melinda Jayne Fagundus and husband Duncan of Greenville NC; four grandchildren, Adam Kyle Edmundson of Chapel Hill, NC, Carly Noel Freeland of Marion, IL, Garrett McLeod Fagundus and Maci Jayne Fagundus, both of Greenville, NC; three sisters, Katherine Virginia Glover and her husband Robert of Plain City OH, Phyllis Ann Basham of Cape Canaveral, FL and Sharon Elizabeth Church and her husband Ronald of Wilmington, NC; two brothers-in-law, Jim Byard and wife Wanda of Mannington and Junior Byard and wife Sharon of Plum Run; several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Freeland was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, John Basham; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ray and Florence Stoneking Byard.
Mr. Freeland retired from Weirton Steel Corp. as a welder after forty years of service. He served in the United States Marine Corp during the Korean War. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at New Cumberland WV, the Scottish Rites-Osiris Temple at Wheeling, the Mannington Moose Lodge, the American Legion in Weirton WV, and the First United Methodist Church at Mannington.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Douglas Wolfe and Fairmont Regional Medical Center for their care and compassion during Ernest's illness.
Family and friends may call at Masters Funeral Home, 209 Main St. in Mannington, WV on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 from 1:30 -8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Monday, Sept 21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Floyd Spatafore officiating. Burial will follow at the Mannington Memorial Park Cemetery. Full Military Rites will be rendered by the United States Marine Corps and the Marion County Veterans Council. Masonic graveside services will conducted at the graveside by the AF & AM Masonic Lodge #31 of Mannington. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mastersfuneralhomewv.com.
Condolences
Dear Mary (my Aunt Kitie)
It is with great sadness that I get this news.
My Dear Uncle,with a loving and great
Spirit will always be remembered with fondness and love.
Your sadness echoes through the canyons
Of Arizona. My love is with all of your family at this time.
Dear Mary
I am saddened to hear about your loss. I wish I would have been able to come down this summer to visit you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.