Michael Stephen Free
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Evangelist Michael Stephen Free, 60 of Rainsboro died Wednesday, July 27, 2011.
He was born Feb. 26, 1951 in Greenfield, the son of Lewis A. “Dewey” and Thelma I. “Tiny” Hill Free.
He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Tiny and John Holbert; his wife of 41 years, whom he married April 25, 1970, Patricia Jean Bowles Free; children, Jenny (Doug) Mustard, Michael (Ashley) Free, Jr. and Amanda (Jason) Vesey; grandchildren, Evan, Zane and Abby Mustard, Connor and Carson Free and Isabella and Julianne Vesey; his siblings, Judy (Max) Shoemaker, Debbie Cockrell and Eddie (Kathy) Free; step-siblings, Jean Whitehouse, Jane Strausbaugh, John, Joel and Rob Holbert; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Mary Bowles, Sarah White, Salley Bowles, Shirley (Ron) Leasure, Sue Lindsay, Beverly (Bob) Howard, Mike (Ronda) Bowles, Don Bowles, Carol (David) Bivens and Bob Bowles; cousins, Cindy (John) Cordell and Ann (Bob) Plymesser and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents, Harold and Mary Free and LaClede and Anna Hill; his in-laws, Ed and Chloe Bowles, Tom Bowles, Charlie and Waneta Pooler, Frank White and Bill Bowles.
He graduated from Paint Valley High School in 1969; soon after, he joined the Navy where he took sonar school and completed his active duty in Dec. of 1972, after being stationed on the USS Sims and USS Johnston. On Jan. 28, 1973, he was baptized into Christ and he later became youth minister at the Bainbridge Church of Christ. He became ordained as an evangelist in 1976 and served Violet Ridge Church of Christ, Frankfort Church of Christ and Rainsboro Church of Christ. He was the founder of “Winning Souls to Christ,” a radio and television broadcast. Over the years, he went on mission trips to the Philippines, Norway, Thialand and Belarus. He also was a bus driver for Greenfield Schools and had been employed by Detty’s Cardinal several years ago.
He was a member of the Rainsboro Church of Christ, where the funeral will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, with Leo Kuhn, Mike Bridenbaugh, Troy Northrop and Kevin Yeager officiating. The burial will follow in the Rhoads Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Highland County Honor Guard. Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at the Rainsboro Church of Christ.
The family request memorial contributions are made to the Community Care Hospice PO Box 123 Wilmington, OH 45177 or the Rainsboro Church of Christ 13072 Barrett Mill Road., Bainbridge, Ohio 45612.
The Smith-Moore-Ebright Funeral Home of Bainbridge is serving the family. Those wishing to sign his online register may do so at www.ebrightfuneralhome.com.[[In-content Ad]]
He was born Feb. 26, 1951 in Greenfield, the son of Lewis A. “Dewey” and Thelma I. “Tiny” Hill Free.
He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Tiny and John Holbert; his wife of 41 years, whom he married April 25, 1970, Patricia Jean Bowles Free; children, Jenny (Doug) Mustard, Michael (Ashley) Free, Jr. and Amanda (Jason) Vesey; grandchildren, Evan, Zane and Abby Mustard, Connor and Carson Free and Isabella and Julianne Vesey; his siblings, Judy (Max) Shoemaker, Debbie Cockrell and Eddie (Kathy) Free; step-siblings, Jean Whitehouse, Jane Strausbaugh, John, Joel and Rob Holbert; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Mary Bowles, Sarah White, Salley Bowles, Shirley (Ron) Leasure, Sue Lindsay, Beverly (Bob) Howard, Mike (Ronda) Bowles, Don Bowles, Carol (David) Bivens and Bob Bowles; cousins, Cindy (John) Cordell and Ann (Bob) Plymesser and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents, Harold and Mary Free and LaClede and Anna Hill; his in-laws, Ed and Chloe Bowles, Tom Bowles, Charlie and Waneta Pooler, Frank White and Bill Bowles.
He graduated from Paint Valley High School in 1969; soon after, he joined the Navy where he took sonar school and completed his active duty in Dec. of 1972, after being stationed on the USS Sims and USS Johnston. On Jan. 28, 1973, he was baptized into Christ and he later became youth minister at the Bainbridge Church of Christ. He became ordained as an evangelist in 1976 and served Violet Ridge Church of Christ, Frankfort Church of Christ and Rainsboro Church of Christ. He was the founder of “Winning Souls to Christ,” a radio and television broadcast. Over the years, he went on mission trips to the Philippines, Norway, Thialand and Belarus. He also was a bus driver for Greenfield Schools and had been employed by Detty’s Cardinal several years ago.
He was a member of the Rainsboro Church of Christ, where the funeral will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, with Leo Kuhn, Mike Bridenbaugh, Troy Northrop and Kevin Yeager officiating. The burial will follow in the Rhoads Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Highland County Honor Guard. Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at the Rainsboro Church of Christ.
The family request memorial contributions are made to the Community Care Hospice PO Box 123 Wilmington, OH 45177 or the Rainsboro Church of Christ 13072 Barrett Mill Road., Bainbridge, Ohio 45612.
The Smith-Moore-Ebright Funeral Home of Bainbridge is serving the family. Those wishing to sign his online register may do so at www.ebrightfuneralhome.com.[[In-content Ad]]