Raymond O. Frens died peacefully on January 6 at his home in Florence, Alabama. He was 94. A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Woodmont Baptist Church, Florence on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2 p.m. The Reverend Chad Hess will officiate. The family will receive visitors in the chapel for thirty minutes prior to the service. An interment will take place at a later date at North Wood United Methodist Church, Florence.
Mr. Frens was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1929 to S. Ernest Frens and Catherine Kok Frens. In 1949, he met Marilyn Alkema while they were both working at the A & P grocery store in Muskegon, Michigan. They married in 1951, two weeks before Mr. Frens left to serve in the Korean War as a Navy signalman onboard the USS Kearsarge. Upon his return to the States, Mr. and Mrs. Frens resided in Muskegon, Michigan where they had two daughters. Over the years, the couple moved to Ludington, Michigan, Miami, Florida and Metairie, Louisiana where Mr. Frens served at Parkview Baptist Church as a deacon and as the chef for the church’s Wednesday evening dinners. It was in Metairie that he retired from Delta Airlines. Later, to be closer to their youngest grandchildren, the couple moved to Florence, Alabama, where Mr. Frens – known for his warmth and humor – regularly served as a substitute teacher for his Sunday School class at Woodmont Baptist Church.
Mr. Frens was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, and sisters Annie Wilkie and Louise Miller. He is survived by his brother Ernie Frens; two daughters, Laurie Clement (Chris) and Cynthia Ferson (David); five grandchildren, Corrie Lambert (Casey), Jennie Moe (Timmy), Chris Ferson (Bessy), Martha Ferson, and Russell Ferson (Caitlyn); and eight great-grandchildren.
“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
