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Brenham Memorial Chapel obituary
2300 Stringer St., Brenham, Texas 77833
Phone: (979) 836-3611 | Fax: (979) 830-8650

Brigadier General (ret.) Woodrow "Woody" Free
July 30, 1933
July 23, 2016

Brigadier General (Retired) Woodrow “Woody” A. Free, 82, passed away at his home in Brenham on July 23, 2016.

Visitation will be Tuesday, July 26th from 6-8 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services with full military honors will be held Wednesday, July 27th at 10 a.m. in the First Christian Church in Brenham. Art Free will officiate. Burial will follow at Prairie Lea Cemetery.

Woody was born on July 30, 1933 to Arthur B. and Cora (Harris) Free. He attended Brenham schools and graduated from Brenham High School in 1952. He attended Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a double major in Agricultural Education and Animal Husbandry in 1956. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Armor branch of the United States Army.

After his initial tour of active duty at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, he continued in the Army Reserves for the next 36 years. His most notable assignments were with the 420th Engineer Brigade headquartered in Bryan, Texas. He served in various capacities with the brigade and its subordinate units in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. His service culminated with being named the Commanding General of the brigade from 1987-1991. He was well respected by the officers and soldiers of the brigade.

His civilian career included working as the assistant county agent in Jefferson County, Texas, from 1958-1961 and Brenham Chamber of Commerce Manager from 1961-1968. In 1968, he began a career as a Department of the Army civilian with the 420th Engineer Brigade in Bryan, Texas, where he continued until he retired in 1993.

Woody married Joan Tiaden on January 11, 1959 at Salem Lutheran Church. Woody and Joan loved to travel with their good friends Dick and Barbara Dietzman. They also loved to go to dances and play 42 with their friends and family. Woody was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was devoted to his church family at the First Christian Church in Brenham where he was a lifelong member.

He is survived by: his wife, Joan; three sons and daughters-in-law, Arthur and Susan Free of Rockdale, Texas, Jody and Diana Free of Fayetteville, North Carolina, J. Loye and Tana Free of Salado, Texas; ten grandchildren, Jere Free, Patti and Charles Darby, Erin Free and fiancé Charles Pitarra, Josh Free and fiancé Cassie Dudurich, Tess and Rushil Chugh, Kristi and Matt Allred, Samantha, Kaydee, Cooper, and Kensley Free; one great-granddaughter Allison Darby; nephew and wife Mike and June James; and special family friends Mark and Tammy Murphy.

He was preceded in death by: parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Johnie and Meta Tiaden; brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Alice Bartay; sister and brother-in-law, Mike and Mauren James; and nephew James Bartay.

If desired, memorials may be directed to the First Christian Church or Hospice Brazos Valley.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX. 979.836.3611 Tributes may be shared at www.BrenhamMemorialChapel.com.


Visitation
Tuesday, July 26, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Brenham Memorial Chapel
2300 Stringer Street
Brenham, TX 77833
(979) 836-3611

Funeral Service
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM
First Christian Church
306 Cottonwood St.
Brenham, TX 77833
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(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) July 26, 2016

Free, Woodrow A. "Woody"

Woodrow A. "Woody" Free Woodrow A. "Woody" Free, 82, of Brenham, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 27 at First Christian Church in Brenham.