George W. Freehan

George W. Freehan, 88, of Columbia Terrace, Portsmouth, RI, died Saturday, November 22, 2008 at Newport Hospital.He was the beloved husband of the late Mary A. Murtha Freehan, who passed away in June of this year. They had been married for 59 years.Born in Pittsfield, MA on August 11, 1920, he was the son of the late William and Emma Eichstedt Freehan.Mr. Freehan was a US Navy veteran of World War II having served as a pilot with the rank of Ensign. He was employed as a mechanical engineer for General Electric in Pittsfield, MA and later at Raytheon in Portsmouth, RI.He is survived by two daughters, Mary Jane Lilley and her husband James of Portsmouth, RI and Patty June Freehan of Bristol; and two step-grandsons, Christopher Lilley of Simsbury, CT and Bryan Lilley of Windsor, CT.He was the brother of the late Ellen Fuller of Pittsfield, MA.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 11:30am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial with military honors will be in St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown.Calling hours will be held Tuesday, November 25, 2008 from 4-7 pm in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Fund, PO Box 806, Portsmouth, RI 02871 or to Looking Upwards, PO Box 4289, Middletown, RI 02842.