Obituary of Howard Emerson Freligh

RIPLEY - Howard Emerson Freligh, age 88, of Ripley, died Friday, August 22, 2014 at Select Specialty Care Hospital in Erie, PA, following an brief illness with his family by his side. Howard was born on February 10, 1926 in Erie, PA, the son of the late Albert and Dorothy (Grinell) Freligh. He served in the US Navy during World War II and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained while serving as a signalman aboard the USS - LSC 49 in the Solomon Islands when his ship was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze boat. Howard had been employed by Welch Foods, at both the North East, PA and Westfield, NY offices and retired from the Westfield Office Howard was a former member of the Ripley Hose Co. and a current member of the Firemen's Exempt Assoc. He had served on the Ripley Town Board for several years, had been a Boy Scout leader in earlier years and had been the Commander of the Ripley Chapter of the American Legion. Howard was an avid bowler who had bowled a 300 game. He loved his NY Yankees! But most of all, he loved and cherished his family. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Minnie (Tryon) Freligh , whom he married on August 7, 1948, and by his two daughters, Brenda (Charles) Carr of Ripley, NY, and Robin (Garry) Huff of Myrtle Beach, SC and by his two sons, Larry Freligh of Gosnell, AR, and Scott Freligh of Ripley. 6 Grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Sgt. Phillip Freligh, (Kuwait) US Army, and by his 3 brothers, Robert, Richard and Gerald Freligh. Friends may call at the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton Street, Westfield, NY on Wednesday August 27, 2014 from 12 Noon until the time of his funeral services there at 2 PM with Pastor Phillip Johnson officiating. Private burial will be in Quincy Cemetery, Ripley, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Honor Flight Buffalo, PO Box 338, Buffalo, NY 14223 or to the Ripley Hose Co., 11 So. State St., Ripley NY 14775. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Freligh family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial Candle or for further information.