Joel Wayne Fregia, silly sock collector, pea salad connoisseur, master post office storyteller, and one of the most beautiful human beings to ever walk this earth, closed his eyes on May 5, 2025, warm in his bed in Montgomery, Texas – and opened them in Glory.
Born on Aug. 7, 1940, in Daisetta, Texas, to Wilson and Alva Lucille Fregia. To know Pawpaw was to love him. And to be loved BY him – that was a gift straight from Heaven. He was the most giving, selfless, and patient man you could ever meet. He was generous, but not just with his time and his resources – with his heart. He taught us that kindness is never a weakness, that integrity is everything and when all else fails, a good belly laugh can fix almost anything. Those twinkling blue eyes were so full of mischief. And my goodness, that man could tell a story! His laugh was contagious, and he never missed a chance to make someone feel valued and important. An ever-present rock in our lives, he never missed a football game or a grandparent’s lunch or a chance to tell us he loved us. He taught us how to love loudly and without fail. He showed us the goodness of God. He truly was a 2 a.m. friend.
He is held in loving memory by his wife, Jane, daughters Carmen Fregia and Bridgette Wright and her husband Bill, and son Billy Fregia. Brothers Rockey and his wife Roxi, Wilson Jr. and his wife Barbara, Michael and wife Linda, and baby sister Lora Dean Ellis as well as a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
PawPaw was preceded in death by his father Wilson, mother Alva Lucille, two brothers, Travis and Bobby, his son Marcus Wayne, daughter Terri Lynn, Grandson Zachariah Chance, and Great Grandson Jasper Wyatt, but he was escorted to Heaven by his mama, who came to get him the night he passed. “Mama” was the last word he spoke on this side of the veil, but every single one of us knows that man has not taken a breath since he passed through the Pearly Gates. To say we will miss him is too small and too simple a phrase to describe the giant hole his passing has left in our hearts. But we will carry his legacy in the grace we extend to others, the values we hold dear and in every laugh that echoes through our family. PawPaw, thank you for showing us how to live with honor and love with passion. You were and always will be our treasure.
Honoring Joel as pallbearers are Wilson Fregia Jr., Michael Fregia, Billy Fregia, Keith Price, Caleb Wright, Wil Fregia. Honorary pallbearers are Rockey Fregia and Bill Wright.
A visitation will be held on Thursday May 8, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at First Baptist Church, Batson, Texas. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m., officiated by Pastor Tolbert Hudspeth. Interment to follow at Guedry Cemetery, Batson, Texas.
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