THE
HOPWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HALL
OF FAME
INDUCTION
– Sunday, September 6, 1992
Chester Fred, son of Dempsey and Margaret (Marks Freed), was born September 4, 1910 in Bagaley, Pennsylvania. Being one of seven children, he ranked next to the last, one of two brothers and five sisters. As a child, he attended the Free Methodist Church. Sometime during his early years, his parents moved to Uniontown and he attended school in East Union. Because of a serious bout of Typhoid Fever, his school years came to a tragic end, but his learning never did. His family still thinks he is the smartest dad a kid could have.
His first job was with
the Pennsylvania Railroad, and in addition, he decided to go to barber school.
He rented a space for a
barbershop from a lady on Coolspring Street and found out that the lady had a pretty blonde sister. That
happened to be Mary Grace Lyons, whom he married in October of 1933.
To this union came
nine children, one of which died at
birth. Since the railroad job
took him so far from Uniontown and his family, he decided to seek employment closer home. He
had to get something that would best support his growing family so he went to
work in the coalmines.
His children remember the mornings he arose at 4:00 a.m.
in order to milk the cow before his early shift in the mine. During
that time the family lived in Searights.
While there, he helped organize a Free Methodist Sunday School and Church,
held in the old schoolhouse. He
superintended, taught, and held prayer
meetings in various homes. He
made sure that there was an annual picnic
held in the back yard during the summertime, an occasional Weiner roast and
also that there was a "treat" at Christmas time for the members,
which consisted of hard to get fruit and candy during World War II.
In 1944, while
expecting their fifth child, they moved to New Salem Road where they lived for
ten years. During that time he helped a floundering Methodist Church in
Coolspring increase its attendance by taking his large family (at
that time the children totaled seven). He again taught, did some preaching,
singing and holding prayer meetings.
In 1954 the family
then moved to Hopwood, to a bigger home, and he became very active in the Hopwood United Methodist Church. He was elected Sunday School Superintendent,
Lay Trader, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and headed various
Committees
He was also
President of the Hopwood P.T.A. during that time for a year or so. He sang in various trios and
quartets. One such quartet was called the
"Humbleaires" and was comprised of Preston and Irene Altizer, wife
Grace and himself. He
was in a men’s quartet that
consisted of George Semans, Preston Altizer, Gerald White and himself. He was also a part of the
church's dart ball team.
They lived in Hopwood a total of 25 years, and during
that time he also pastored three small Methodist churches in the mountains,
Sansom Chapel, Meadow Run, and Ohiopyle.
Ted, as he was also
known, and Grace had a ministry of
their own. They raised eight children to adulthood. Their home always abounded
with people, young and old alike. The phrase "There's
always room for one more, was taken
literally as they took in six foster children after their own were raised.
Four of the foster children were from one family and two were
from another. One
of his co-workers was
over-heard telling the guys, "I saw Freed going by in his car and he
looked like he was driving a chicken coop".
Seriously, the Hopwood Church has meant a lot to the Freed
family over the years. Two of them
were married in this church. When the
doors were open, Chester saw to it that every available Freed (or foster child)
was in attendance. The Freed kids credit their parents for their faith and love
for God.
A treat for those who
are home visiting is to attend the
Hopwood Church with their Dad and to see the persons who have been like an
extension of the family. Having 26 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren has
enabled Chester to continue his ministry for as long as the Lord permits.
We hope it will be for
a long time. Since the time of
induction, Chester has passed away and we are sure he is continuing to service
the Lord in Heaven.