William R. Freeman, Jr.

Born in Bath, Maine, in 1927, William "Bill" Freeman, Jr. was the son of Marian Hill Freeman and William Robinson Freeman. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on August 26, 2025.

Bill’s family moved from Maine to Westfield, New Jersey, in 1937. He graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy in 1945, attended the US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) andreceived a B.S. in Metallurgy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1951, where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. After graduation, he married Mary Ann Crowell and served for two years as a Lieutenant at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. While there, he conducted research on titanium-based materials and participated in aircraft component failure analyses.

In 1953, he joined AVCO Lycoming in Stratford, Connecticut, and was employed there for 18 years, becoming the Director of the Materials and Process Technology Laboratory. He participated in research and development on aircraft engine materials and processes. In 1972, he accepted the position of Vice President, Quality and Technology, for Howmet Corporation and moved to Michigan to manage Howmet’s Technical Center. During his career he was awarded a total of 28 patents in his field. After eight years in Michigan, he was transferred to the corporate office of Howmet in Greenwich, Connecticut, and returned to Easton, where he had lived with his family from 1961 to 1972.

In Easton, he had been an active member of the Easton Swimming Association. He was elected to the Region 9 Board of Education and later to the Easton Board of Education, serving one term as president. Following that, he was a member of the Easton Police Commission. In retirement he enjoyed playing golf, working in his yard and reading, particularly books about the Civil War and World War II.

He is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Mary Ann Crowell Freeman, and four children: Carol Freeman Young of Stamford, CT, William Robinson Freeman III and his wife, Carolyn, of Charleston, SC, Peter C. Freeman of Allendale, MI and Susan Freeman Ploss, of Easton, CT.; twelve grandchildren: Alexander F. Young, Tyler A. Young, Meredith F. Sharma, William L. Freeman, Alicia F. Allard, Brandon L. Freeman, Ashley Moseler, Maryanne Freeman, Lauren C. Freeman, David C. Freeman, Emily H. Ploss and Melissa V. Ploss, and thirteen great grandchildren. 

A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Sunday, September 7th, at the First Presbyterian Church 2475 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield CT 06825 followed by a reception at Brooklawn Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church.