Vernon Estus Freeland

Vernon Estus Freeland of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away on February 15, 2011. He was born September 26, 1921 in Coal Hill, Arkansas. Vernon attended elementary and junior high school in Clarksville, Arkansas. His family then moved to Little Rock, where he graduated from Little Rock High School, now called Little Rock Central High School. At Little Rock High Vernon played end on the football team and was on the track team. He also played in the Arkansas High School All-Star Football Game in 1940. He received a football scholarship to the University of Arkansas where he played for two years until he joined the Navy in World War II. During the war, Vernon served in the Pacific at Canton Island and Pearl Harbor. In 1944 he married Vernell Fowler who he met while attending the University of Arkansas. After the war he and Vernell returned to Little Rock and took over Freeland's Grocery from his father. While still operating the grocery store, he began working for the United States Weather Bureau as a meteorologist. He received his training as a meteorologist during the Navy and at the University of Miami. He retired from the United States Weather Bureau after 29 years of service. Before and after his retirement, he developed a subdivision. Besides developing the subdivision, he himself physically built three houses and sold them. In his later years he enjoyed walking at Park Plaza Mall and had many friends in the Mall Walkers group. He is survived by his wife, Vernell Fowler Freeland; his son Byron Freeland; granddaughters, Michael Elizabeth Freeland and Anna Katherine Freeland; and daughter-in-law, Betty Freeland. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Mattie Foy Freeland and his sister, Vita Freeland Frazier. Memorials may be made to Baptist Health Foundation. Visitation will be Thursday, February 17, 2011 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home located at 6313 West Markham in Little Rock, Arkansas. The funeral will be held on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Family burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.