The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-03
Death Takes
r. p. Freeze;
Rites Sunday
Long Time Civic, Educa-
tional And Business
Leader of This City
HIS SUDDEN ILLNESS
AND DEATH ARE SHOCK

AND DEATH ARE SHOCK
Rufus Preston Freeze, Hender-
sonville drug store owner, long
time chairman of the city school
board and prominent churchman
and civic worker, died at midnight
last night in Patton Memorial hos
pital subsequent to an operation
for relief from appendicitis.
Stricken early Thursday after
apparently having been in un-
usually good health, Mr.. Freezes
condition was at once serious. He
underwent the operation late
Thursday, his condition was crit
ical all day Friday. and death fol-
lowed in the night. He was 81
years old.
Funeral services will be held
at $3.50 p. m. Sunday at the resi-
dence, Third avenue and Wash
ington street, with DR.. l.. T..
Wilds, Presbyterian church pas
tor, in charge. The Rev. James
p. Burke, rector of the Episcopal
church, and DR.. N. Colin Hughes
will assist. Burial will follow in
Oakdale cemetery, with the fol-
lowing close friends and associ-
ates serving as pallbearers: Bruce
Drysdale, F. M. Waters, c. l..
Grey, B. H. Colt, j. Fl. Yelton,
j. R. Sandifer, H. A Corriher and
w. NJ. Sherard. The Presbyterian
choir will supply music at the SER
vices; members of the city school
board. officers of the Presbyter-
ian church and members of the
vestry of the Episcopal church
will serve as honorary pallbearers,
and Mrs. Frank Bell, Mrs. b. H.
Colt, Miss Anne Weeks and Miss
Winona Ewbank will be flower
bearers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grayson Neal of
Marion, the latter the daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Freeze, were
here at the time of Mr.. Freezes
death, and a son. William P.
Freeze, assistant city editor Of the
Miami Tribune, arrived at noon
today with his wife after having
been notified early Friday of the
seriousness of his fathers condi-
ton. Announcement of the death
came as distinct shock to the
community, and scores of friends
called at the residence this morn
ing. Mrs. Freeze, although over
come by her sudden bereavement,
was able near noon to see num-
Der of those who came to offer
condolences.
Mr.. Freeze was born Septem-
Der ID, 1875, near Concord, son
of Andrew Mcdowell Freeze, and
Ann Woodside Freeze. The faith
err, now 81, lives at Kannapolis.
Five brothers and sisters also sur.
vive: Edgar Wilson Freeze OF
High Point, Jacob Franklin Freeze
of Sylvia, Mrs. Tourney Rogers,
Mrs. Fred Taylor and Albert
Freeze, all of Kannapolis.
WAS EDUCATOR AND
INDUSTRIALIST
R. P. Freeze, the second child
in the family, attended the pub
lie schools of Cabarrus county
and was graduated from the
Enochville high school, in Rowan
county, in 1895. He served for
one year as principal of the pub
lie school at Harris Chapel, also
in Rowan county, and then for
two years attended Davidson col
lege, where he took the pharna.
ceutical course. In 1898 ne passed
the North Carolina boards exam
nation in pharmaceutics, receiv-
ing the prize for the best grade
in chemistry. Then followed pc
RODS of employment in Lexington
and Concord, and in 1900 ne
bought a drug store in Newton
and operated it until 1910. After
selling the store, he was appoint
ed receiver of the Newton Hos
iery mills and spent a year ad-
justing its affairs, and then he
and D. M. Ausley of Statesville
bought the mills and operated
them for eighteen months. Nov.
ing to Hendersonville. he helped
TO found the Freeze-Bacon Hos.
iery mills, and in 1926 he formed
a partnership with W. M. Sherard
in the Freeze and Sherard real
estate firm. After retiring from
this business, he was manager OF
the Carolina Central Gas COM
pany, which he helped to organ
lie and establish here, and four
years ago he returned to his first
business and profession by form
ing the Freeze Drug company.
on SCHOOL BOARD
NEARLY 20 YEARS =.
Mr.. Freeze was a member OF
the city school board for almost
20 years, most of the time as It's