George Freeborn

GEORGE FREEBORN, SR.

George H. Freeborn, Sr., former mayor of La Marque, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

George was born to Louise and Cyril Freeborn in Houston, Texas, on December 10, 1927. George graduated from Lamar High School and then the University of Houston with a degree in Transportation in 1950. In 1953, George met and married Janie Louise Rinderknecht. He served with the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea for 9 months. Though Janie and George initially lived in Kemah, they chose La Marque to raise their family. George started his career in transportation working for Gulf Coast Express and Central Freight Lines. He enjoyed the transportation industry for twenty years. In 1963, George and Janie opened their first Laundromat. Over time, they owned and operated 4 washaterias in the La Marque area, with the catchy slogan If its cleaned by George, by George, its clean The Freeborns were in the laundry and dry cleaning business until their retirement in 1992.

Mr. Freeborn was very civic oriented. He served as the Mayor of La Marque from 19721976. In 1992, he reentered city business serving as a city councilman. In between his city duties, Mr. Freeborn served 6 years on the Galveston County Drainage District No.2, where he served as secretarytreasurer and chairman. He was appointed by Governor Briscoe to the State Water Quality Management Advisory Committee and the Planning and Advisory Committee for the San Jacinto River Basin Authority. Mr. Freeborn was also appointed by the Galveston and Brazoria County Commissioners Courts to the Board of Trustees of the Gulf Coast Regional Mental Health Retardation Center. He also served as a member of the British Petroleum citizens board and he was part of the three man committee that raised private funds for the new La Marque Public Library.

George was very active in his familys life. He served as President of the Queen of Peace Home and School Association where he was instrumental in air conditioning the school, president of the La Marque Intermediate School PTA, and a girls softball coach. He enjoyed camping and fishing with his family and had a reputation as the worlds unluckiest fisherman.

George was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, Jack Freeborn and Ray Freeborn, and his granddaughter, Devan Marie Freeborn Barron.

George is survived by his wife, Janie of La Marque, and his four children, Kathy Freeborn of Houston, Jan Barron and her husband Bill of Kingwood, George H. Freeborn, Jr. of Taylor, Texas, and Heidi Freeborn, of Jasper, Arkansas. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Emily Pearl Barron Robertson and her husband Jason of Charlotte, North Carolina, Brigham James Barron of Kingwood, and Miranda Noelle Barron of Golden, Colorado, and one great grandchild, Carter Ryan Matteson of Kingwood.

George will be interred in a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Lawndale near his parents, brother and granddaughter. Visitation will be held Monday, May 12, 2014, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at EmkenLinton Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the charity of ones choice.

Visitation