KINGWOOD — Freda Hall couldn’t help herself last Thursday afternoon in the lobby of the Preston Federal Credit Union.
It was an occupational hazard.
Before she sat down in the place of honor reserved just for her, she quickly scanned the floor.
Especially the corners, where dirt and wax can build up.
Then, she smiled and shrugged.
For 30 years, she owned that floor and every other inch of space, inside and out.
She was the custodial staff at the bustling place at the far end of East Main Street in Kingwood — and yes, that’s the custodial staff. As in, department of one.
And, uh, yes, she actually did retire. Seriously.
“I guess I had to slow it down a little bit,” the 86-year-old said, with a break-time grin.
Not that she ever took that many breaks, Ervin Fink said, shaking his head.
He’s the treasurer of the credit union and is also a founding member of the institution that opened in 1978.
That’s when Freda was at the top of her game, cleaning for Preston County Schools.
She was at the top of lots of things then, he chuckled.
If a lightbulb needed changing or a spider web had to go, Freda, who is barely 5 feet on her tippy-toes, would shimmy up the ladder, oftentimes scaling where her male co-workers wouldn’t.
“Freda just wanted to do a good job,” he said.
At the credit union, it was a matter of respect, she said — for her bosses, and for the people the institution serves.
Freda: “You either do it right or don’t do it at all. I know that’s an old saying, but it really is true. Customers notice a clean bathroom or nice flowers planted outside.”
People noticed their friend on this particular day, that, in typical Freda-fashion, pulled a double shift. It was both a retirement party and a birthday party.
She deserves the recognition, said her son, Artie, who was there for the sendoff with his daughter, grandchildren and fiancee.
“Mom always puts others before her,” he said. “You want to know how you’re supposed to treat people? Just watch her.”
In an institution all about assets, one of her friends posed the million-dollar question:
“What are you going to do now, Freda?”
“Well, I’m not gonna sit around. You know me.”
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