Robert John Freligh

Robert J. Freligh, 89, was called to his heavenly home on March 27, 2026.

Robert was born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota on November 9, 1936 to the late Dr. W.P. and Irene (Comstock) Freligh, M.D. of Albert Lea, MN.

Robert graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1955. Robert along with his mother and grandmother moved to southern California in 1956, after the passing of his father in 1954. Robert graduated with honors from Santa Monica College with a degree in photography in 1960.

He went on to have a photography business that operated in west Los Angeles and Santa Monica for five years. In 1966 he left the photo business and went to work for California State University, Long Beach as a staff photographer in the Office of Academic Technology. Robert lived in Anaheim near Disneyland for over a decade while he was working at the University, watching and working as photographic technology evolved from film, flashbulbs and chemical darkrooms to digital cameras and computers.

In his spare time after receiving Christ as his lord and savior at a Billy Graham crusade in Anaheim in 1969, he volunteered for various Christian evangelical organizations such as The American Evangelical Missionary Fellowship in the inner city of south-central Los Angeles; and a group called United Gospel Outreach. In his words, "During my volunteer work in evangelicalism I saw many pray to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior and become Christians, from all walks of life".

Robert received training through various churches and ministries such as Campus crusade for Christ, Christians in Action, and more. He joined the Salvation Church as a soldier after going through their training program. He belonged to the Salvation Church Tustin Ranch Corps of Tustin, CA, and was active until he could no longer attend meetings, but considered himself a lifetime member of the Salvation Army. 

Mr. Freligh was an only child, never married and had no children, but was devout in his relationship with God and Christ, valued his time and action with many religious communities, and leaves behind many friends. He lived his life for Christ, and wanted to be walking proof of God's unending love, and inspire others to accept Christ into their hearts. He will be interred in Graceland Cemetery, near his parents in a private ceremony.