Elfriede H Widup

Elfriede “Freda” Helene Widup (nee Lohse), 87, was born on August 30, 1929, in Heidenau, Germany, to Hulda Helene Lohse (nee Zimmerman) and Oskar Clemenes Lohse. She played soccer in school and was noted for her academic success throughout high school. She lived in her home in Heidenau, which was a suburb of Dresden, Germany, throughout World War II. She lived through Dresden being bombed by the Allies at the end of World War II. Her brother Erich Lohse was an officer in the German army fighting on the Eastern Front against the Russians. Freda remained in Heidenau during the occupation by the Russians and the division of Germany into the East and West. Freda had unsuccessfully attempted to escape from the East on three different occasions and was apprehended each time by the East German border guards. Her brother Erich, an engineer for Bosch, was finally able to get her legally to the West to live with his wife, Reise, and him in Bamberg, Germany in 1953. Once in Bamberg, she became a seamstress and was studying to become an engineer drafting apprentice.

One of her Freda’s favorite escapades was in 1956 when she was going to West Germany from Dresden and had a painting with her that had been hand painted for her by German artist Max Fiedler. She rolled up the canvas and took it on the train with her knowing the East German border guards would seize it if they discovered the painting. She smuggled it in by hiding it in plain sight in a rack over her seat on the train. When the train got to the border the East Germans emptied the train and searched all the passengers, their belongings and the train itself looking for valuables and contraband. They did not discover the rolled canvas painting and Freda got back on the train and when arriving in the west disembarked the train with her painting in hand.

In the summer of 1956, she met Jack Widup, an American soldier, at the Leiter Lion in Bamberg and on June 1, 1957, they were married. Their first son, Kim, was born in Nuremberg, Germany. They were next assigned to Fort Benning, GA, and then returned to Germany where son Ron was born, in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1964, they moved to Copperas Cove, TX, when Jack was stationed at Fort Hood. Jack went to Vietnam on two different occasions and Freda and the boys remained in Copperas Cove. They stayed in Copperas Cove until 1974, when they were assigned to Fort Shafter, HI. They returned to Copperas Cove in 1977 and ultimately retired there. Freda was actively involved in community groups and taught German to soldiers stationed at Fort Hood. She worked for and later retired from Central Texas College. Freda volunteered at the Fort Hood Thrift Shop on post for many years. Freda loved to swim with her German girlfriends, work in her yard and go garage sale exploring with Jack to find “treasures.” Freda was also a Charter Member of Central Texas College Retirees Association.

Freda is survived by her husband CW4 Jack Widup, retired; her two sons, Kim R. Widup (wife Lynell K. Odenbach) of Naperville, IL, and Ron Widup (wife Tammy Freeman) of Arlington, TX. Grandchildren Christopher and Katherine Widup, both of Chicago, IL; Dylan and Cody Widup, both of Arlington, TX. Niece Angelika Lohse Schwabl (husband Hubert Schwabl), Pullman, WA; great niece Hannah Schwabl, Munich, Germany; great nephew Phillip Schwabl, Munich, Germany; niece Roswitha Lohse Abraham (husband Dr. Geza Abraham), Lugano, Switzerland; and great nieces Sylvia and Brigitte Abraham, both of Lugano, Switzerland. Freda will be deeply missed by her numerous cousins living in Europe.

Freda was preceded in death by her parents Oskar and Hulda Lohse and her brother Erich Lohse.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Freda's memory to The CTC Retirees Association. .

CTC Foundation Office

P.O Box 1800

Killeen, Texas 76540-1800

Checks should be made out to The CTC Foundation Office.

Arrangements under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Copperas Cove, Texas. A memorial service for Freda will be held Thursday April 27 at 1:00 PM. at Crawford-Bowers, Copperas Cove.