Freda Carter

April 19, 1925 - April 7, 2021

Obituary

Freda Carter was born in Coventry, England on April 19, 1925, and passed away peacefully of natural causes with her daughter Carol, granddaughter, and son-in-law by her side on April 7, 2021.  Freda moved back to Washington in 2019 to be closer to her family, and to create new and wonderful memories with them.

Freda was the loving daughter of Fred and Mary Maples, and big sister to brother Frank.  Freda was an extremely helpful child, and some of her fondest memories were assisting her father in the garden.  She cherished her school friends in Coventry, and even started up their own clique. They named themselves the Wagtail Gang and were a very tight-knit group for years after she left England.  During WW2, Freda was a teenager when she worked at St. Johns Ambulance Corp, where she came to the aid and comforted patients. It was during WW2, inside a bomb shelter where she first started talking with her husband, Arthur Kenneth Carter.  They knew of each other through work, but never spoke to each other until that night he walked her home. Shortly after they were married on September 25, 1943, encompassed with family and close friends. In November of 1947, Ken and Freda with their daughter Carol, crossed over the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary into New York, and from there by train to Olympia.  Once in Washington State, they added to their family with a second daughter Patricia. After raising both children in Washington, Freda and Ken moved to Hawaii, then to the Philippines, before they finally retired back to Hawaii.  

Freda loved to travel with Ken by her side, together they went to Korea, Scotland, Japan, Austria, and many other places together.  After her beloved husband passed in 2005, she was heartbroken but continued to travel with her daughters and son-in-law. Freda had an affinity for cruises, and especially the slot machines on them.  She would get so excited when she won, showing everyone her winning tickets. Freda was exceptional at crocheting, and anyone who knew her owned at least one set of her wonderful potholders. She was an extremely independent person and loved to meet up with friends for lunch or exercise classes in her younger years.  Freda would hop on the bus by herself and go on shopping excursions down to Chinatown to barter with the venders. She loved competition, even at the age of 95 playing bean bag baseball, Freda of course was the team captain. She would be frustrated if she didn’t get on base, but the moment she did, she was smiling up at the stands saying, “Yep! That was Me!!!”  as we cheered her on.

The things we will remember about Freda in the last years of life are how much she loved her daughters, her husband, and family.  She would get so excited when family came to visit, but our favorite memories will be of her “smuggling” cookies out of the apartment, and the sugar packets tucked away in secret spots, which gave us a laugh while we cleaned her apartment.  Freda was very well loved and will be missed daily.  

Freda Carter was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Kenneth Carter, and daughter Patricia Gerona.

Survived by Daughter Carol Hill (Roger Hill); Grandchildren Kami Grosvenor (Michael Grosvenor), Kaipueo Gerona (Jeanne Gerona), Scott Hill (Debbie Hill), and Kevin Hill; Great Grandchildren Chloe Grosvenor, Brayden Grosvenor, Maika Cordner, Kiilee Gerona, Callie Gerona, Trisha Marion, Kylie Hill, and Colby Hill; and Great Great Grandchild Zaylee Ross

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Leonard Chrys
Leonard Chrys
2 years ago

My condolences to all the family. Its never easy to lose our loved ones, but cherish the many wonders memories Freda brought to you! I will cherish my potholders and am sad to know there will be no more! Love- Chrys