Lt. Col. Ronald Duane Freed

Lt. Col. Ronald Duane Freed passed away peacefully on October 8, 2024, at the age of 82, at his home in Parker, Colorado. Ronald joined the United States Air Force in July 1964 after completing the ROTC program at Indiana University. He proudly served for 28 years and retired from military service in July 1992. During his career, he served in Thailand during the Vietnam War, and also served in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. During his service in the Air Force, Ronald was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, an Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and one oak leaf cluster, an Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster, a National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, a Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, an Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, an Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, an Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, an Armed Forces Reserve Medal, a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, an Air Force Training Ribbon, a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Ronald was born to Harold Wayne Freed and Evelyn LaFerne Freed (née Riester) on May 5, 1942, in Bedford Indiana, Ronald grew up in Orleans, Indiana. After graduating from Paoli High School in 1960, Ronald attended Indiana University in Bloomington and graduated in 1964 with Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Ronald later graduated from Webster University with a Master of Science in Management in 1977. 

Ronald married Paula Raye Shirley on June 26, 1964, and together they had three children: Cynthia Lynn, Robert Glenn, and Kimberly Gwynn. 

Above all else, Ronald loved his family, Jesus, his cat, his country, his church, fishing, and Indiana University Basketball. 

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Evelyn, his wife, Paula, his son, Robert, his sister, Rita Ann, and his brother-in-law, Phillip Lee Tolbert. 

Ronald is survived by his sister, Patty Jill, his brother-in-law, David Alan, his brother, Danny Joe, his sister-in-law, Peggy Ann, his two daughters, Cynthia and Kimberly, his son-in-law, Benjamin Demarios, his five grandchildren, Hunter Modesto, Joshua Benjamin, Kyle Robert, Megan Rachel, and Taylor Serenity, his three great-grandchildren, Addison May, Matthew Hunter, and Leah Grace, many beloved nieces and nephews, and his cat, Lucy.

Visitation for Ronald will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, October 17, at McAdams Mortuary. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 18, at Paoli Community Cemetery.

For condolences visit mcadamsmortuary.com