Person:Eugene Freely (1)

About Eugene R. "Gene" Freely

Eugene Rockwell "Gene" Freely was born 8 February 1913 in Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, the son of Charles Cleveland Freely (1884-1923) and Anna Ethel Bryant (1885-1940). Gene's father died in 1923 prior to the 1930 U.S. Census when his mother Ethel was listed as a widow. Because his mother was impoverished, at age 11, Gene was sent to live on a farm with relatives. With the help of his aunt and uncle, the family was reunited and they all moved to Daytona, Florida, where his uncle and mother worked hard to support the growing children.

It was in Florida that Gene got his first taste of the working world, working at a Western Union telegraph office delivering messages, then he went to school for several hours. At lunchtime he and other students would shoot wild birds adn small game in the nearby woods for dinner, and after school Gene would pickup and collect the daily newspapers at the post office and deliver them to 150 subscribers before returning to the telegraph office to work for several hours before going to work at a bakery mixing dough until midnight.

At age 16, Gene migrated to California where he lived with his older brother who helped him through Fairfax High School, while he worked at the Ben-Valle produce stand from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturdays for the meager sum of $3. After graduating from high school, Gene joined Ralphs Grocery Company, working at its Chapman Park Market on 6th Street in Los Angeles, California, working from box-boy to checker to Deli Department Manager. Six years later, he joined Alexander's Market where he spent the majority of his deli career. Gene relished the challenge Alexander's Market's 15 stores had to offer, he managed the deli department in Alexander's stores and became known for his special displays and creative holiday merchandising.

While working at Alexander's Markets, Gene hired his future wife, Marie to work behind the deli counter at Alexander's Glendale store. Shortly after the beginning of World War II, Gene volunteered for military service in the Army Air Corps and enlisted on 3 November 1942 in Los Angeles, California. After his basic training but before his deployment, Gene and Marie married in 1943. Immediatly afterwards, he served his country for 3½ years, when he was attached to the 462nd Bomb Group, 20th Air Force, in charge of communication equipment for the B-29's.

In 1963, Gene left Alexander's Markets after 27 years of service to join food industry meat supplier Leo's Quality Foods, working for deli industry legends Leo Cohen, Julius Bell and Jack Ostrow. As a salesman, Gene called on Vons, Food Fair, Food Giant and Shopping Bag accounts. Gene was an active member and elected and served on the Board of Directors in 1961 thru 1963 during the formative years of the Southern California Deli Council, which later was re-named to the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), a local Food Industry Trade Association, and attended many of its meetings, seminars and functions. While working for Leo's Quality Foods, Gene was awarded the Deli Council's "Big Cheese" Award in July 1971 for his leadership and support of the Council.

Gene Freely passed away on 5 November 1972 in Los Angeles County, California. His contributions to the food industry weree many and he has been remembered fondly by his co-workers, customers and friends in the food industry, which benefitted from his participation and hard work during his career.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find A Grave.

   Eugene Rockwell Freely
   Birth: Feb. 8, 1913
   Death: Nov. 5, 1972
   
   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=85879803&ref=acom

2.   California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.

   Name: Eugene R Freely
   Social Security #: 551090482
   Gender: Male
   Birth Date: 8 Feb 1913
   Birth Place: Missouri
   Death Date: 5 Nov 1972
   Death Place: Los Angeles

3.   Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   Name: Eugene Freely
   SSN: 551-09-0482
   Last Residence: 91364 Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
   BORN: 9 Feb 1912 - s/b 1913
   Died: Nov 1972
   State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)

4.   United States. National Archives and Records Administration (ARC # 1263923). World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946. (2002).

   Name: Eugene R Freely
   Birth Year: 1913
   Race: White, citizen (White)
   Nativity State or Country: Missouri
   State of Residence: California
   County or City: Los Angeles
   Enlistment Date: 3 Nov 1942
   Enlistment State: California
   Enlistment City: Los Angeles
   Branch Code: No branch assignment
   Grade: Private
   Grade Code: Private
   Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
   Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
   Source: Civil Life
   Education: 2 years of high school
   Civil Occupation: Purchasing agents and buyers, n.e.c.
   Marital Status: Married
   Height: 68
   Weight: 122

5.   United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Eugene R Freely
   Age: 6
   Birth Year: abt 1914
   Birthplace: Missouri
   Home in 1920: Columbia Ward 2, Boone, Missouri
   Street: East Broadway Street
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Marital Status: Single
   Father's name: Charles C Freely
   Father's Birthplace: Missouri
   Mother's name: Anna E Freely
   Mother's Birthplace: Missouri
   Attended School: Yes
   Household Members: Name Age
   Charles C Freely 36
   Anna E Freely 35
   William S Freely 13
   Glenn C Freely 9
   Eugene R Freely 6
   Evelyn E Freely 4
   [4 1/12]
   Roy Hancock 20
   Steve T Rusev 24
   Ivan Langley 19
   Lewis Hutmacher 21

6.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Eugene Freely
   Birth Year: abt 1913
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: Missouri
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Home in 1930: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
   Street address: N Vista
   Ward of City: Pt Assembly District 57
   Block: 127
   House Number in Cities or Towns: 632
   Dwelling Number: 194
   Family Number: 208
   Attended School: Yes
   Able to Read and Write: Yes
   Father's Birthplace: Missouri
   Mother's Birthplace: Missouri
   Able to Speak English: Yes
   Household Members: Name Age
   Ethel Freely 44
   William Freely 24
   Glenn Freely 19
   Eugene Freely 17
   Evelyn Freely 14
   Ethel Freely 21

7.   Los Angeles, California, United States. Los Angeles Times
   7 November 1972.

   FREELY, EUGENE R., beloved husband of Mrs. Barbara Marie Freely, father of Mrs. Annette Munro, brother of Mrs. Evelyn Orem and Mr. Glenn C. Freely; also survived by 2 grandchildren.
   Service, 1:30 p.m., Wednesday at the Church of the Hills. Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills.