Winifred Path

Tuesday, October 19, 1937, Winifred Lee (Rogers) Path came into the world, but she never liked her given name, so she went by "Fredde." Perhaps the nickname was fitting because, as a young girl, growing up in the far back hills of northwest Arkansas, near Japton and Ball Creek, she reports being a tomboy. Even so, she was always smart, and probably smarter than all the boys-and girls-in her one-room elementary school. In fact, she skipped second grade, and graduated high school, at sixteen, as valedictorian. That same year, her girls basketball team, from little Elkins High School, went to state! She loved basketball (but never told her grandmother because Little Granny would never have approved of the shorts in the uniform). She also loved cats. When she left for college in 1954, Fredde left eighteen cats at home in Durham. . . . And it is right to say: the smartest thing she ever did was put the Lord on in baptism, at Bible camp, when she was thirteen. This event marked the trajectory of her life.

But "Fredde" wasn't always a good fit. When she arrived at Harding College, her "name" had reserved her a room in the boys' dormitory, and there were no more available rooms in the girls' dorms--except-there was a girl who had requested a private room. It was the smallest room in the oldest dorm on campus, but it had an empty bed. Under the strange circumstances, the senior, a foreign student from Japan, agreed to allow a freshman to share her private room. It hadn't been that long since WWII, and Fredde was slightly afraid to meet her new roommate. Yet, Kylko became one of the greatest friends she ever had, even though the name "Fredde" never quite fit Kylko's mouth, "Fledde" was close enough.

As she recalled it, that first year of college was one of the happiest, most exciting times in her life. She loved the feeling of independence, being away from home, she loved all the girls who became her friends and sorority sisters, and she loved having adventures in faraway places, traveling with groups from Harding on mission trips. Even so, it was one day early in the fall of her sophomore year that changed her life forever. While walking across campus with a friend, Fredde saw a young man skipping down the steps of the library. "Who is that?" she gasped, sure that she had never seen anyone more handsome in her life!

"Where have you been?" Her friend responded, "Everyone knows him! That's Bill Path, the football star." Fredde never dreamed that someone like him would ever notice her. But he did! He says it was her ponytail that first caught his attention; he liked the way she wore it curled like a tornado. So, Monday, June 4,1956 Bill and "Fred" (as he called her) married.

Over the next sixty-five years, there were three children, sixteen different addresses, five different states, and Fredde wore many hats. She was a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a Girl Scout leader, salesperson, store manager, secretary, and executive secretary, but perhaps, the job that she took most seriously was Bible class teacher. Over the decades, Ms. Fredde taught countless children about God. Her creativity and compelling visuals made Bible class fun for her students and for her. The Lord will surely reward her excellent work.

Her grandchildren know her as an expert cook and seamstress. She loved creative sewing, but most of all she loved making teddy bears (perhaps we should call her creations "Freddy Bears.") Over the years, many people were blessed by bears that she made.

Tuesday overnight, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, September 24, 2025, Winifred Lee (Rogers) Path left this world. She loved many who preceded her in death: her parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles (who were more like siblings to her), a dear cousin, Cindy, and a nephew, Steven Rogers, parents-in-law and sisters-in-law, all gone now. Bill died four years and nine days before Fredde, but they are apart no longer. Their youngest daughter, Penny, is with them too.

Fredde also loved all those who are left:

Her son: Dr. Bill R. Path and his wife, Debbie; their sons, Grayson Path, his wife, Katie, and their two children, Everette and Waverly; Dalton Path, his wife Kristen, and his sons, Rowland and new baby, Declan (pronounced Deck lan), due in December;

Her daughter: Pamela Dawn (Path) O'Neal and her husband, Brian; their daughters, Dr. Summer O'Neal, Auburn Spicer; and Taffy (O'Neal) Xu and her husband, Xu Jie/"Shane", and their girls, Beili (pronounced Bailey) and Ailin (pronounced Eileen);

Her only brother: Jerry Rogers and his wife Inola; their surviving children, Mike Rogers, JerriAnn (Rogers) Lamb, Kyle Rogers, and all their children;

Rest in peace Fredde. She was always concerned that passers-by might read her tombstone and think "Fredde" was a man. But that won't happen. For at the top, the marker clearly reads "Mom." And that is very fitting.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Okmulgee Funeral Service & Cremation Care, 220 S. Alabama, Okmulgee, OK 74447. Family and friends may leave kind words of comfort, special memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com