Winifred Frey

Winifred “Jim” Voltz Frey, 98, passed away March 23, 2023 in Decatur, IN.

Winifred and her twin brother Fred were born near Glenmore, OH on December 27, 1924 to Charles L. and Mary Anna (Jones) Voltz.  Fred passed away January 31, 1929.

After graduating from Wren High School, Winifred attended Iowa State University, earning a degree in Foods and Nutrition.  She became a registered dietician following an internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH.

Jim was helping out in her father’s elevator in Wren when her future husband came in looking for a job – and she gave him one for life!  Winifred and Lloyd C. “Bud” Frey married on July 20, 1950 and lived and worked in Arlington, VA and Kodiak, AK before returning to Ohio to spend the rest of their lives farming near Willshire.  They were blessed with four children: Angeline (Jerry) Buckles of Fort Wayne, IN; Moira Rose (Donald Swanson) Frey of Lee’s Summit, MO; Valerie (Virgil) Baird of Waterville, OH; and Daniel Christian (Jennifer) Frey of rural Willshire, OH.

Winifred enjoyed teaching and read to her children constantly.  When her children were finally all in school, she went “pro” for a few years, teaching Home Economics at Parkway Junior High School in Willshire.   Then she returned to full-time farm homemaking.

The family attended Winifred’s childhood church, Bethel E.U.B., where she taught Sunday school.  When Bethel closed, Winifred faithfully attended first Willshire and then Willshire Union United Methodist churches, continuing to teach and leading an active church life.  In recent years she turned her teaching skills to giving short inspirational and humorous talks at church.

Winifred was a very active, lifelong member of the Order of Eastern Star, having joined Hyler Chapter, Ohio City.  She held many local and district offices over a span of more than 75 years, serving most recently as secretary of Van Wert Chapter.  Her records were meticulous and her minutes elegantly written.

Family and friends have appreciated Winifred’s thoughtful messages in cards and letters over the years.  Her many nieces and nephews will also recall Aunt Jim’s dab hand at making pies – a skill honed in her early years cooking for haying crews.  Jim loved to sing and literally whistled as she worked around the house.  She enjoyed gardening and road trips and was an avid reader, working through the unabridged Journals of Lewis and Clark last year, then immediately undertaking to read the complete Sherlock Holmes, all while keeping up with several periodicals including a weekly news magazine and the local papers.

Winifred was predeceased by her parents and all 9 of her siblings: Maryhelen Barnes, Amy “Betty” Huls, Mae Neate, Alice Etter, Carl Voltz, LoAnn Baxter, Fred Voltz, Ivan Voltz and Alfred Voltz.  Her husband Bud passed away March 17, 1998 followed by his brothers Wayne, Robert, Charlie, Jim, Keith and Rodger.  Son-in-law Donald Swanson died in 2009.  

Loving survivors include all 4 children; brother-in-law John (Kathy) Frey of Utah; sister-in-law Mary Frey (Richard) Butler of Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews scattered throughout the country.   Grandchildren being gifts from God in compensation for growing old, Winifred was well rewarded with 6 surviving grandchildren: Nikki Bullins; Ian (Kim) Buckles; Sharley (Derick) Blake; Samuel (Erika) Frey; Virginia (Chase) Palagi: and Heather (Jeremy) Schweinsberg.  She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Gabe and Molly Younker; Emily Hussey; Cooper and Elcey Blake; Oaklynn Frey; Sawyer Palagi; and Bentley, Jaxson, Trenton and Lamont Schweinsberg.    

Throughout her long life as daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Winifred remained steadfast and true to herself.  While we mourn her physical absence, her impact on our lives means she is truly with us forever.

The family suggests memorials to Willshire Union United Methodist Sunday School, Monroe, Indiana; Shriners Hospitals for Children; Wren EMS; or the Adams Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Indiana.

Visitation and all services will be held at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert, OH.  Family and friends may visit 3:00 – 7:00 PM Wednesday, March 29 and 1 hour prior to the funeral on Thursday, March 30.  OES services will be held at 6:30 PM, Wednesday, March 29.  The funeral will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 30, 2023, with Pastors Bud Larrimore and Gary Ginter officiating. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.  

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