Myrtle Ostwalt Freeze

Myrtle Ostwalt Freeze, 95, of Statesville, entered her heavenly home, January 31, 2026. Mrs. Freeze was born October 15, 1930, to Gray Bynum Ostwalt and Jessie Mae Lippard Ostwalt.

She was a 1949 graduate of Celeste Henkel High School and later graduated from Mitchell Community College. She was employed by Iredell County in various administrative positions and retired from the Iredell County Library.

On October 18, 1952, she married Ross Freeze and they enjoyed 68 years of marriage before he preceded her in death. They were active members of Bethlehem Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served on multiple committees. In recent years, they faithfully attended Fellowship Baptist Church where she played the organ and piano until her health declined at the age of 93.

She thoroughly enjoyed tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, often sharing and preserving the fruits of her labor. She also enjoyed cooking, music, sewing and writing. Traveling to different places, annual beach trips and Sunday lunches after church with her family were always times she treasured. She lovingly devoted time caring for and nurturing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her greatest source of joy was time with her family. She had a good and faithful servant’s heart for Christ and a spirit of love and compassion toward everyone. She leaves a legacy of faith, love and kindness.

Left to cherish her memory are one son, Ross Freeze Jr. (Linda), two daughters: Jessica Laws (Edwin) and Susan Parker (Donald); grandchildren: James Boggs (Brittany), Justin Boggs (Paige), Jonathan Parker (Tara), Mary Parker, Lindsay Deviney (Brandon), Andy Laws (Mia), Kristie Jenkins, Jamie Jenkins; and 12 precious great-grandchildren: Colton, Durham, Ellis, Hadley, Maisie, Riley, Jude, Lenya, Andrew, Kaitlin, Colby and Grayson, all of whom she adored. She is further survived by her brother, Lathan Ostwalt, sister, Mildred Elliott, sister-in-law, Phyllis Patterson and many special nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a grandson, William Parker, her brothers: Albert, William, Frank and David Ostwalt and her sisters: Mary Munday, Rachel Moss, Dessie Campbell and Nell Kerley.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 on Saturday, February 7, at Bethlehem Church, Statesville, NC, with Pastor Beau Mills officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethlehem Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 12:00-1:00 prior to the funeral hour.

Serving as pallbearers will be James Boggs, Justin Boggs, Jonathan Parker, Jesse Ostwalt, Eddy Munday and Edwin Laws.

Memorials may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church or Bethlehem Church.

“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8

Arrangements for Mrs. Freeze are in the care of Troutman Funeral Home.