Ralph W. Freeman

Mr. Ralph Freeman of Griffin passed away on Friday. He was 88 years of age. Mr. Freeman was born on a small cotton farm near Sylvania, Georgia. After graduating from Sylvania High School he joined the National Youth Administration and was stationed at Brunswick, Georgia. He then worked for two years for the Central of Georgia Railway. After World War II began, he at first accepted a deferment arranged by his employer, but in December 1942 after seeing so many of his high school friends in uniform, he volunteered for the army. He was sent to Vancouver Barracks, Washington for training then shipped overseas to England. He was assigned to a new branch of the army called the Transportation Corps. He subsequently served on Utah beachhead, and in France, Belgium, and Germany, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. His duties included providing logistical support and entertainment for the frontline troops and in this capacity he met such notables as George Patton, Mickey Rooney, and Werner Von Braun. After three years in World War II Ralph enrolled at the University of Georgia and graduated with an LLB in law. At the university he met and married his wife of 64 years, Virginia Christian, whom he called "his lifeline and anchor". He practiced law briefly in Millen, Georgia, then volunteered for the Korean War and spent 2 years at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Benning, Georgia, Korea, and Japan, serving as 1st lieutenant. After the war he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission and then moved to Atlanta and founded Associated Adjusters which at one time was the largest independent insurance adjusting company in the southeast. In 1960 Ralph and his wife moved to Griffin, purchasing a small motel which they renamed the Bambi Motel. Two years later they converted the office of this motel into a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, one of the first KFCs in Georgia. Ralph made the deal to franchise the restaurant with Colonel Sanders himself, even spending the night at his house in Kentucky. He and his wife eventually opened two more KFC restaurants. During this time Ralph had the misfortune of having two of his four children afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis. In addition to helping his wife care for them, he became active in organizations fighting this killer of children. For the past 27 years Ralph was an active member in the 12 step movement, not only help himself from addiction to alcohol, but also helping countless others on their road to recovery. He also was a member in later years of Voices of Veterans, a group devoted to educating the public about the experiences of the members of our Armed Forces. He was for many years a member of the First United Methodist Church of Griffin. Ralph is preceded in death by his parents Frederick Nease Freeman and Charity Howard Freeman, his sisters Mary Andrews and Lucille James, his brothers Tom Freeman and Johnny Freeman, and his two sons, Terrence Wayne Freeman and Glenn Michael Freeman Survivors include his wife Virginia Christian Freeman, his sister Estelle Monk, his son Ralph Christian Freeman, daughter-in-law Christy Johnson Freeman, daughter Debra Freeman Jinks, son-in-law Joel Jinks, grandchildren, Jenna Jinks, Ansley Jinks, Kaydie Jinks, Cecil Freeman, and Glenn Freeman, great-grandchildren Cash Skrine, Connor Freeman, Kylie Rain Gresham as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation for Mr. Ralph Freeman will be Saturday, December 22 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, December 23 at 2:00pm in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Reverend Kevin Lobello and Roy Drake will officiate. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contribution may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2302 Parklake Dr. NE Ste 210 Atlanta, GA 30345

Ralph W. Freeman

May 11, 1924 - December 21, 2012