Freda Buffington Wangelin

Freda Wangelin, 93, died Sunday, May 15, 2016, at her home in Poplar Bluff.

Mrs. Wangelin, daughter of the late Ura Vincent and Beulah Short Buffington, was born on Aug. 10, 1922, in Ripley County, grew up in Carter County, graduated from Van Buren High School and married attorney Harris Kenneth Wangelin on June 27, 1939. He died in 1987.

Freda was well-known as a loving parent and friend who was kind, generous, good- natured and gracious. She always had a smile. Over the years, Mrs. Wangelin was active in a variety of community, civic, cultural and charitable projects both in Poplar Bluff and in St. Louis, where she lived while her husband served as chief judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Freda was highly sought as a partner on the Duplicate Bridge Circuit in St. Louis and achieved the Life Master designation there. She enjoyed playing bridge with a variety of friends throughout her life. Freda was a member of the St. Louis Junior League and P.E.O. She was active in the American Cancer Society, Republican politics and was considered a delightful asset to her husband when he served as the Missouri Republican Party Chairman. She was smart, savvy and a positive influence on her husband and family.

Mrs. Wangelin is survived by a daughter, Judith Wangelin Scott, and her husband, local attorney L. Joe Scott; a grandson, John Frederick Scott and his wife, Kendra Brinkley Scott, both local attorneys, and two great-grandchildren, John Harris "Jack" Scott and Katherine Brinkley "Kate" Scott. She also is survived by one brother, James Short Buffington, Cabot, Ark., and a devoted care giver, Ruth Eastwood. Freda also was a special aunt to many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janet Alice Wangelin; a grandson, Joseph Harris Scott; two sisters, Marie Starks and Wilma Ball, and three brothers, Howard Buffington, Forrest Buffington and Lawrence Buffington.

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. The funeral, directed by Cotrell Funeral Service, will follow at 1 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. William A. Vail, senior pastor at First Baptist, and the Rev. David Huck, associate pastor at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.