Fred Frei Sr., born April 24, 1918, in Everett, passed away peacefully at the family home on March 12, 2004. He spent nearly his entire life on his beloved Whidbey Island.

Fred graduated valedictorian of the Langley High School class of 1936, after which he spent three years working to earn tuition before entering the University of Washington to study engineering. His time at the university was short as world events spilled over to impact his life. He enlisted in the Army on Jan. 30, 1942, and spent time in Hawaii before being accepted into the Aviation Cadets of the Army Air Corps. He was a B-17 navigator and eventually became squadron navigator. From March 18, 1944, to March 12, 1945, he helped release Europe from the hands of Hitler by flying on not only his 25 required missions over Europe, but volunteering for a second tour and completing a total of 46 combat missions, including two missions on D-Day. For his flying time, he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, seven Air Medals and four Awards of the European Theater of Operation Medal for combat over Europe.

Following the war, he returned home to Whidbey Island where in 1948 he married Velma McElyea. He and his brother, Bob, formed the Frei Brothers Mill Company. Using Fred’s engineering knowledge, they built in their little machine shop an improved saw mill to replace their initial portable one. They purchased land, cut the trees, milled the logs, and hauled the lumber to Everett, contributing to the supply of lumber necessary for homes and other construction. Rather than divesting the land after the trees were cut, and long before the law required it, they began replanting. Over a period of years, the land in the Saratoga area that currently makes up the Frei Family Tree Farm was acquired.

Fred’s never-changing goal was to contribute. His legacy is that in conjunction with having added to the supply of a necessary commodity, he leaves a section of Whidbey Island more like what it was when he was young than the rest of the island.

Fred leaves behind his wife of 55 years Velma; his daughter Karen Patching and her children, Joshua and Jessica, Hillsboro, Ore; his daughter, Jeanne Hunsinger (Dennis) and their children; Joanne Rogel (Mac) and Matthew; and his son, Fred Frei Jr. (Samantha) and their children, Ryan and Nathan.

A memorial service will be held at the South Whidbey Assembly of God Church on March 27 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who might want to make a contribution in Fred’s memory contribute to the South Whidbey Assembly of God Church toward the church mortgage or to the Tod and Pam Brager family (Washington Mutual Bank) to help defray medical costs related to the care of their son.