Warren Stone Freund Jr.

Warren Stone Freund, Jr. died peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 31st of natural causes. A kind, patient, and friendly man devoted to his family and wife of nearly 70 years, Warren made life fun and full of adventure. Whether it was boating, sailing, golfing, playing tennis, jogging, snow skiing, traveling, or just entertaining family and friends, he enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. His passions were good food, art, music, and exploration, especially through the Texas Hill Country, searching for bluebonnets and monitoring construction projects, dating all the way back to the Mansfield Dam when he was just a boy.

Born July 11, 1925, in Mission, Texas, to Julia Perry Freund and Warren Stone Freund, Sr., who came to Austin from New Orleans as a boy in 1895 with his family, Warren, Jr. grew up along Shoal Creek Boulevard and 34th Street, where St. Andrews School is located today. While growing up in Austin, Warren became a huge sports enthusiast. He attended Wooldridge Elementary, University Junior High, and Austin High School, where Warren, Sr., also attended and played baseball in the 1910’s.

Warren grew up outside, boating on Lake Austin and Lake Travis and playing various sports with his cousins and friends. One summer as a teenager, Warren was invited to live in Panama with family friends at the newly completed canal, where his fascination for the seas grew, learning about the large ships and container barges. That is also where his life-long passion for golf began.

Graduating at age 16 from Austin High, he went on to The University of Texas, where he studied Engineering and Naval Science and eventually earned dual Bachelors: one of Science in Naval Science and Tactics, and another in Business Administration in 1948. During his early years at UT, he walked-on to the football team where he served as back-up quarterback to Longhorn legend Bobby Layne and became a lifelong Longhorn fan.

Also while at Texas, Warren joined the U.S. Naval ROTC program, following in his family’s footsteps; several of his uncles, the so-called “Freund boys,” served in WWI, including Warren Sr., a decorated marine. Warren, Jr. served in ROTC as a sharpshooter, practicing in the attic of the historic Littlefield Home on campus. Upon receiving his Naval commission, Warren reported to the U.S. Naval command near San Francisco at Mare Island in Vallejo, Caifornia and served with Allied troops in the Pacific theatre in 1945, directing ship-to-shore gunfire to support marines fighting on land.

Already a Lieutenant JG in the Navy when he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, Warren returned to Austin instead to finish his degrees, where much of the coursework was already completed. He joined the Sigma Nu fraternity and after completing his degrees, he spent a year in Seattle learning the insurance business at a home office of a large insurance company and studying art at the nearby University of Washington. When he returned to Austin, he joined his father at Freund Cuthbertson Rogers Insurance on 10th Street at West Avenue. He would eventually work for Merrill Lynch for 30 years, taking care of his customers’ financial needs with calm, sound advice, and thoughtful research.

Working in Austin he asked a friend to introduce him to someone he’d seen with friends who turned out to be the love of his life and future wife, Karen Thatcher of Amarillo. They met as she was decorating a ‘Round Up’ parade float for the Kappas. Their courtship was placed on hold in 1950 when Warren was called back to duty, this time as a full Lieutenant in the Korean War.

Warren and Karen wed in September 1953 following her graduation. They settled in Austin, raising their two children: Thatcher and Martha. Warren held memberships at Tarry House where he took up tennis and Austin Country Club where he continued to hone his golf game. He made several holes-in-one during his lifetime and “shot his age” on multiple occasions—major achievements for any golfer. Even more importantly, he made many lifelong friends on the links.

Warren Jr. was predeceased by his son, Thatcher, and is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Martha Thomas and her husband Fred, and four granddaughters, Anna Freund, Elizabeth Bradshaw, Madeleine Bradshaw, Katharine Freund and her son Theo, as well as his sister, Mary Freund Stringer of Waco.

A Funeral Service is scheduled for 1:00 PM Sunday, June 11, 2023 at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas 78731.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting local Austin businesses and visiting Austin landmarks such as Barton Springs and Mount Bonnell Park or making a donation to your favorite charity.