Meet Freda Routt, U.S. Air Force Veteran

 

For Veterans Day this November, JKV honors all 170+ retired military residents.  Here is one Veteran resident’s story and why she loves where she lives.  

 

Freda grew up in a Navy family that moved frequently before finally settling in Virginia Beach, where her father retired from military service. After attending college and changing majors a couple of times, she decided to join the military. Although her dad was a Navy veteran, he encouraged Freda and her brother to join the Air Force. She joined the Air Force in September 1975 and served for four years until August 1979.

Freda went to Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and technical school at Lowry AFB in Aurora, Colorado, where she studied Inventory Management. Her first duty station was K.I. Sawyer AFB in Marquette, Michigan. Located on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior, it was quite a change from Virginia. She arrived there in January, when the cold and snow were quite a shock for a girl from Virginia. While there, she enjoyed many activities in the local area and earned recognition as Pride Airman of the Month and Quarter, as well as a medal for Meritorious Service.

Her next duty station was Incirlik Common Defense Installation in Incirlik, Turkey. Quite a change from Upper Michigan!  Freda enjoyed learning about the local area and culture. She even took archaeology classes given on base by the University of Maryland and went on many field trips to interesting historical and archaeological sites.

Freda earned the rank of Staff Sergeant, E-5, in less than four years of service. She decided to leave the military after her enlistment was up. However, after finishing college, she returned to government service as a civilian in the field of Inventory Management and Logistics, first with the Navy and then with the Coast Guard. Her time in the Air Force led her to a great career and retirement.

 

Freda moved to John Knox Village with her wife, Scooter – also a retired veteran, in November 2024 from the Fort Myers area. They were searching for an inclusive community, and were drawn to JKV for the warm, welcoming culture and sense of community.  Along with Scooter, Freda enjoys the extensive life enriching activities offered at JKV, especially the local field trips and the opportunity to sing in JKV’s chorus. Her favorite thing about JKV is the people here and meeting so many new friends.

We are honored that Freda and her wife Scooter have chosen to make John Knox Village in Pompano Beach their home.

 

John Knox Village (JKV)

For almost 60 years, JKV has set the bar when it comes to delivering an all-inclusive resort lifestyle designed for living life to the fullest at each stage of retirement. JKV emphasizes fitness and overall well-being with world-class programming, state-of-the-art amenities, healthy and delicious dining, and much more. Residents are entitled to unlimited use of healthcare services and 24/7 healthcare professionals on campus. There are no time or financial limits on the long-term care benefits that residents receive, regardless of the level of care required. Simply put, a life plan agreement at JKV provides a fiscal safety net with an unparalleled community geared to a wide range of needs, whatever the road ahead brings.

Want to learn more about what John Knox Village has to offer? Contact us today or call (954) 783-4040 to take a tour, or for a no-pressure conversation with one of our Life Plan Consultants.