Gene A. Free

After a life well lived and a love that never faded, Gene A. Free, 91, passed away on January 13, 2026, finally reunited in Heaven with his wife Adda, the love of life.

Gene was born August 5th, 1934, to Elisha Free and Eva (Fisher) Free in Sandy Creek Township. He married Adda Mae Buchanan on October 10, 1953, and they started building a beautiful life together.  They had three beautiful children Gary, Linda, and Jackie.

Gene worked for many years as a truck driver and although the job often took him away from his family during the weekdays, he always made up for it by spending the weekends at camp with his family, whom he loved dearly. He devoted so much of his time to helping his family, friends, and community over the years that it led him to make the decision to retire from PennDot in 1999 so he could live out the rest of his life for his family.

Gene always kept himself busy with one project or another. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and was an original founder of Bear Creek Camp. Throughout the years, he helped the community in any way possible. He was active with the Boy Scouts and the Hadley Rod and Gun Club in his younger years. Many may remember him working the booth at the Sheakleyville Fair or tagging along on Boy Scout fishing trips to Canada. In later years, he loved spending time at Goddard State Park and played an instrumental role in developing the butterfly garden at Commodore Perry School. He was deeply involved in his grandchildren’s lives, always showing up and being their biggest fan. He was “Papa Free” to so many children and was dearly loved by all.

While Gene was known for many things in life, nothing defined him more than the love he had for his family. He was a man of quiet strength, deep compassion, and steady faith.  Family was not just important to him, it was everything to him. His greatest joy came from time he spent with the ones he loved. Whether it was enjoying lunch at Grantham’s Landing with his son Gary, family events with his daughter Linda and her children, or his nightly phone calls with his daughter Jackie, he cherished it all. He truly was a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather, and a great friend to many.

Though his family will mourn his passing, they will celebrate the beautiful reunion that awaits him in heaven. The love he had for his wife will forever leave a footprint on his family’s heart. Though he carried the ache of missing her here on earth, he never stopped the work that they started together 72 years ago.

Gene is survived by his three children, Gary (Donalea) Free of Hadley, Linda (Bobbie) Peak of Cochranton, and Jackie (Dan) Marlowe of Jensen Beach Florida; his sisters, Peg Gibson and Janet Wagner, both of Cochranton and a brother, Jerry Free of Hadley. He leaves behind three granddaughters, Wendie (James) Osborn, Mistie (Cliff) Mills, and Daelyn (Ryan) Williams and four great grandchildren, Gunner, Colton, Cody and Eva Marie.

In lieu of calling hours, the immediate family would like to invite family and friends to a Celebration of Life to be held at a later, warmer date.  Knowing the love and dedication Gene gave to the community, his family has also set up a GoFundMe account for any donations that his friends and family would like to contribute in his honor. Donations will go to The Friends of Goddard State Park and to Commodore Perry School to help support the Butterfly garden that he and his wife worked so hard to help create. https://gofund.me/baeb81f8d

 If you would like to donate by any other form, please send it to Gary Free, 955 Milledgeville Rd. Hadley, PA 16130. Gary will then be sure that funds are forwarded to appropriate parties. 

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.snyderfh.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Robet L. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 3223 Perry Hwy., Sheakleyville. 

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