George Fream

George Francis Fream (“Fran”) died peacefully on Wednesday at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Rob Floyd in Fayetteville, PA, with his family close by. He was born May 10, 1925 in Gettysburg, PA to the late George W. and Luella Riffle Fream. During his childhood, he worked on many of the farms in the area and had numerous paper routes. When his school schedule permitted, he accompanied his father on his postal routes. He worked at the Gettysburg Furniture Factory until he was drafted to serve in World War II.

Fran served on the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh as a gun loader and saw extensive action in the Pacific, including battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as surviving a typhoon that sliced 100 ft. off the bow of his ship. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and was honorably discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II.

After the war, Fran moved to Maryland where he worked as a cabinetmaker until he was 70 years old. In September 1951, he married Doris Jane Rothhaupt at St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg and then moved to Glen Burnie, MD, where he lived for over 50 years. He raised three children with his wife, to whom he was married for 48 years prior to her passing in 1999. Fran was also very active in his church, sitting on several committees and even helping to establish The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Glen Burnie, MD.

He spent his final nine years living with his oldest daughter and son-in-law in Fayetteville, PA. He loved the Ravens, Orioles and Washington Wizards and rarely missed watching a game. He also enjoyed gardening, spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, going to his family’s cabin in Iron Springs, PA and never missed attending his grandson’s lacrosse games at Yale University.

He is survived by his three children Beth Floyd and husband Rob of Fayetteville, PA, Gregory Fream and wife Nancy (Barton) of Hanover, PA, and Melanie Platt and husband Kirk of Glen Burnie, MD; six grandchildren Erin, Ryan, Justin, Brian, Nathan, and Allen; and four great-grandchildren Finn, Penelope, Reed, and Iris.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 31, 2016, in Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 4856 Wayne Rd, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Rev. Bill Nienstedt will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SpiriTrust Lutheran Homecare and Hospice, 2700 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or to Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at the above address.