Ted Wallace Freeman

Ted (Theodore) W. Freeman left this earth on Friday November 2, 2018 to join his wife Rita in eternal rest and peace. Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter Road.

Ted moved to Amarillo in 1946 at the age of 15, leaving his birth city of Ft Worth TX to live with his father and attend Amarillo High School. During high school Ted worked for his father and uncle at the family's business Freeman's Florist located next door to the Esquire Theater on Washington Street. After high school Ted enlisted and served 2 years as a private 1st class in United States Army at Fort Bliss, Texas. During his high school year’s Ted’s eye caught the attention of Rita Ann Herrmann and a 5-year courtship ensued until they married Dec 28, 1957. Having a new wife and soon beginning a family, Ted started his own retail floral business named North Amarillo Florist located near St. Anthony's Hospital. As Ted's family grew, so did the Freeman business name and in 1965 Ted moved both his family and business to 45th & Western, where his family grew and his shoppe name changed to Ted Freeman Florist. Eventually the family moved to reside in Puckett Place but the flower shoppe stayed in business until 1986. Ted went to work for Blackburn Shaw funeral home as the in-house florist, which expanded into being the in house florist for 6 funeral homes, when local funeral homes became part of a state corporate franchise. Ted retired in 2002 from the florist/funeral business and traveled the country with his wife Rita, in their motor home visiting their favorite places in New Mexico and Colorado, but mostly visiting their expanded family in the various cities of Texas. After the sudden passing of his wife Rita, in 2016 Ted relocated to the continuum care of Clyde W. Casper Texas State Veterans Home until his death.

He is survived by his sisters, Abbey Crandell of Amarillo, TX and Francis Ann Day, of Burleson,  TX,  his sons David and Matthew Freeman living in Plano and Ft. Worth and his daughters, Rita Johnson of Garland, TX and Ann Howard of Spring, TX. The remaining family consists of 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, all living throughout Texas.

With the holidays upon us, our family, now more than ever, understands the importance of spending time with your families and loved ones. Therefore, our family has chosen to forgo a memorial service at this time for our father. The family will embrace a private intimate celebration of his life this upcoming Thanksgiving in Ft. Worth, Texas. We graciously appreciate all your prayers and heartfelt words to and for our family.