Obituary of Edwin Freeman

Edwin Freeman, 85, of Harrodsburg, died Saturday, September 29, at his home after a long illness. Born December 10, 1921, he was the eldest son of the late Wheeler and Dora Robinson Freeman of Harrodsburg. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elsie Kirkland Freeman. Additional survivors include one daughter, Ann Harriet (William) Dedman of Harrodsburg, one grandson Milward (Kathy) Dedman of Harrodsburg, one granddaughter, Marie Hart (David) Rudder of Lexington, 3 great-grandchildren Ward Dedman, Cawood Dedman and Alex Rudder. He is also survived by a brother, Marshall (Anne) Freeman of Harrodsburg, sister-in-law Martha Kirkland Davis, 2 nieces and a great nephew. He was preceded in death by his brother and business partner, R.C. Freeman. Edwin served in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1956-57 and 1962-63, was Mercer County Judge from 1966-1970 and Kentucky State Senator from 1970-74. He was chairman of the Mercer Co. Democratic Party in 1965 and was a Kentucky delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He was a founding partner of Cole-Freeman Auction Co. in 1954 with offices in Lexington and Harrodsburg. He later became sole owner of Freeman Auction Co. and was proud to welcome his grandson, Milward Dedman, into the business which he renamed Freeman & Dedman Real Estate and Auction Co. He was a life member of Kentucky Auctioneers Association and received the W.P. Scully Auctioneer Award from the National Auctioneers Association. In addition to his 53 year career in real estate, Edwin was owner of Freeman and Mercer Tobacco Warehouses in Harrodsburg and was a partner in Garrard Co. Stockyards and Burley Tobacco Warehouses in Danville and Freeman Bros. Tobacco Warehouses in Madison, FL. He also owned and operated cattle and tobacco farms in Mercer, Boyle, Casey and Green counties. Edwin was the recipient of many awards including the Jaycees Recognition award for Public Service in 1969, Pioneer Award for Public Service from the City of Harrodsburg following his tenure as County Judge, Mercer Chamber of Commerce annual Harrods Award in 1991 and was named Fort Harrod Business and Professional Woman’s Club Boss of the Year in 1982 and 1997. He was a life long member of the Harrodsburg Baptist Church were he taught the Glad Hand Sunday School Class for 35 years and was a 50 year director of the Harrodsburg Baptist Foundation. He was a Mason and a Shiner, long time member and past president of the Harrodsburg Lions Club, board member of Mercer Federal Savings and Loan, chairman of the board and majority stockholder of the Mercer Co. National Bank, member of the board of trustees of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, past president of Harrodsburg Tobacco Board of Trade. Edwin had a life long love of road horses which he exhibited for many years. Along with his 2 brothers, he was inducted into the American Road Horse and Pony Association Hall of Fame during the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville in 1986. They were also inducted into the Mercer Co. Fair and Horse Show Hall of Fame in 2003. Edwin was the only owner and amateur exhibitor to show and win both the Roadster to Wagon and Roadster to Bike World’s Grand Championship in the same year (1978) an honor which still stands today. Following an accident in the show ring in 1989, he was no longer able to drive himself but continued to enjoy attending horse shows and watching Milward drive family owned roadsters. He was a life member and past national president of the American Road Horse and Pony Association. Edwin will be most remembered for his love of family, unwavering support and commitment to his community and church and for the countless lives he touched and encouraged throughout his distinguished life and career. Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Monday(Oct.1,2007) at the Harrodsburg Baptist Church, with Dr. Robert DeFoor officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 – 8 PM at the Ransdell Funeral Chapel and at the Church after 10:00 AM Monday. Bearers: Bud Purdom, Jack Freeman, Bob Terhune, Sonny Hunt, Fred Rice, David Baker, Joe Stevens and Mark Hurst. Honorary Bearers: Directors of Harrodsburg Baptist Foundation, Glad Hand Sunday School Class, Kenneth Kirkland, Eric Yeast, Louis Yeast, Lee Robinson, Ronnie Sims, Mark Evans, Kenneth Palmer, Tommy Claycomb, Bob Logsdon, Kirk Ogrosky, and Woodie Leavell. Memorials are suggested to the Harrodsburg Baptist Foundation or Heritage Hospice.