Roll Call Tribute

Richard Morris "Dick" Freund, Col. USAF (Ret) 

February 12, 1933 - December 28, 2023 

Richard “Dick” Morris Freund of Wilmington, N.C., 90, died on 28 December 2023 at Champions Assisted Living, part of the Davis Community.

Born on 12 February 1933 in Philadelphia, PA, Dick was the son of Hortense Hanaw Freund and Bernhard Freund. He grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Haverford Prep School. He went on to attend Clemson University where he graduated in 1955 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. After graduation, he married Peggy Gibbs Freund on June 7, 1955.

A few years later, the Air Force sent Dick to Texas A&M University for a degree in Industrial Engineering. He ultimately got a master’s degree in counseling from Troy State University while attending the Air Force War College.

Dick had a distinguished career as a navigator on various aircraft types and at many Air Force bases to include a tour in Vietnam. When not flying, Dick specialized in logistics assignments. His final assignments were at USAF headquarters and the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon where he retired from active duty in October 1980. After retirement from the Air Force, Dick worked with several consulting firms in support of government agencies. Dick’s final career utilized his career counseling skills in the outplacement business to assist those who were transitioning from one career to another. He retired completely in 1998 and moved from the Mt. Vernon, VA area to Wilmington, NC in 2003.

Dick was an active member for twenty years of the Rotary Club of Mount Vernon. He served on the Steering Committee of the Neighborhood Friends of the Mt. Vernon Estate in Fairfax County, VA. He and Peggy were active participants in their neighborhood association. Once he relocated to Wilmington, he enjoyed walking, learning to sculpt, pottery making and playing golf.

Dick is pre-deceased by his first wife Peggy Gibbs Freund, his second wife Patricia F. Freund, and by his older sister Janet Wile. He is survived by his two children Joy F. Poppe (Steve) and Jeffrey I. Freund (Denise), 6 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his younger sister Babette Eichorn of Solon, Ohio.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC. Contributions may be made to Porters Neck Village Memorial Fund, 1200 Porters Neck Rd., Wilmington, NC 28411.