ARTHUR BARLOW FREEMAN

A.B. Freeman, 90, of El Dorado, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, November 29, 2008. He was in the loving care of his daughter and her family and the staff of the John R. Williamson Hospice House. His quiet, easygoing manner, his generosity, and his willingness to help will be missed by his family and friends.
Mr. Freeman was born June 3, 1918, in Arkadelphia, to Arthur Barlow and Jamie Alma West Freeman. They moved to El Dorado when he was a young boy. He was in the third grade at Yocum Elementary when the brick building opened. He graduated from El Dorado High in 1936.
He married Maxine Gilliam on September 21, 1940. They were married 63 years before her death in September of 2003. A few years after they married, he went to work in the Navy shipyards in Virginia during World War II. He entered the Navy in February of 1945 and served on the U.S.S. Monterey. After his discharge in March of 1946, he and Maxine moved back to El Dorado.
A.B. started Freeman Motor and Armature Company in the late 1940's on North West Avenue. He worked on electric motors for many area businesses and individuals--the oil companies, the chicken plant, chicken houses, oil wells, water wells, and others until his retirement in the mid 1990's. His son, Harry, worked with him for several years in the shop.
Mr. Freeman was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church and served many years there as an usher. He was a member of the El Dorado Masonic Lodge #13, the Scottish Rite Bodies of Little Rock, and the Scimitar Shrine Temple of Little Rock. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason.
He used to get Camp Wotapi ready each summer for the Campfire Girl activities. He was an avid Razorback fan for many years, attending all the in-state games and many out of state. He also enjoyed going to the horse races, especially when his friend's horse was running. During his working years and for a few years after, you could find him at lunchtime at the Town House restaurant. He enjoyed the food and the friendship there.
A.B. was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He spent much time helping his children pursue their interests when they were growing up. He participated in his children's and grandchildren's many activities. They could always look out and see their Dad and Mom, Papaw and Mamaw, in the audience or crowd of spectators. He loved each one dearly and was very proud of them. In their later years, he and his wife went on many trips with his daughter and her family. After his wife's death, he moved in with them. They continued to take him on many of their outings. Being with family was always very important to him.
A.B. was preceded in death by his wife and his parents; 3 brothers, Durwood, Eddie, and Paul; and 2 sisters, Esther Paul and Louise Hodge. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Noah Moses and their children Noah, Beth, and Anne, all of El Dorado; his son and his wife, Harry and Janette Freeman and their daughter Katlynn of Norphlet; a sister-in-law, Vivian Patton; two other grandchildren, Derek Smith and Chasity Freeman; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, at the First United Methodist Chapel in El Dorado with the Rev. Phil Pinckard officiating. Interment will follow in Arlington Cemetery under the direction of Perry's Funeral Chapel in El Dorado.
Mr. Freeman's body will lie in state at the Moses' home, 234 Shadow Lane, El Dorado, with visitation held there.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Life Touch Hospice or to a charity of the donor's choice.