Robert William Freet, 86, of Willow Hill, PA, passed away Fri., Dec. 22, 2023, in the comfort of his home with his wife and daughter by his side. He was born Mon., Jan. 18, 1937, in his family home in Shellsville, PA delivered by his Aunt Polly. He is the son of the late Thomas William Freet and Evelyn Pauline (Holsberger). Along with his parents he is preceded in death by his sister Lois Freet-Smith and his brother Thomas George Freet. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Patricia (LaCorte) Freet, their three daughters; Kimberly Durnien (Frank) of Barnegat, NJ and their two sons Trei (Lena) and Robert (Casey); Sharon Hockenberry (Robert) and their two sons Taylor (Carrie) and Tanner (Kylee); and Stacy Beeler (Patrick) and their daughter Alexandria Beeler-Moore (Larry). He also has four great grandchildren Layne Moore, Liam Hockenberry, Kade Hockenberry, and Nora Durnien with another two great grandbabies on the way. He also leaves behind his sisters Janet McCandless, Mary Hockley (Harvey), and Virginia Sutton (Robert) and his brother John Freet (Janice).

Robert graduated from New Cumberland High School in 1956. He immediately started a job with Berg Electronics and the owner liked him so much that when he expressed an interest in joining the Navy, Mr. Berg would keep his job for him when he returned.  Robert then joined the US Navy, which did not meet his expectations of seeing the world, so he transferred to the US Army on the September 15, 1958. He served as an Army Security Agent stationed in Okinawa with an honorable discharge in 1961. He loved his time in the Army because he could "get into mischief, play volleyball, and build vehicles". If you asked him what job he had while in the military the answer you'd get was "all kinds of things, but none of it felt like work. Sometimes I drove the higher ups around in the jeep I built". He had his jeep shipped home and traveled the United States until settling down with his loving wife.

He was a truck driver for many years, driving for two companies and running his own company, worked on the family farm, and started his own publishing company which worked with local schools for the kids to write their own stories. When their daughters were in elementary school, they took them for a yearlong cross-country trip to see our beautiful country in an RV. He enjoyed anything outdoors, especially camping! If he had his sleeping bag and good weather, he was content to sleep on the ground under the stars! Robert and Pat loved bike riding, and would cycle for 20-30 miles most days. At the end of a ride if the milage was only 24.85, he would keep riding until it hit 25. He wanted to bike 100 miles in one day, which he did at 75 years old!!!!! With his creative mind, math, and problem-solving skills he was quite the inventor! In the 1960's he had his first two US patents for mechanical and design with his latest US patent in 2015. He was a long-time member and deacon of the Spring Run Bible Church.

He will be deeply missed by his family, and knowing he is in Heaven by the grace of God, with a new body, brings peace to our hearts.

A viewing for family and friends will be held at the Agett-Lakjer Funeral Home, 16715 Path Valley Road, Spring Run, PA  17262 on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, between 6 PM and 8 PM, and again Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, after 10 AM until the time of the funeral service at 11 AM, with Pastors John Semple and Ryan Henderson, officiating.  Interment with Military Honors will follow in Path Valley Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Robert may be made to either the Metal Township Fire and Ambulance Co., PO Box 185, Fannettsburg, PA  17221 or Path Valley Outreach, 11057 Creek Road, Fannettsburg, PA  17221.  www.agettlakjer.com