using final seems to be the better approach

http://www.training.prace-ri.eu/uploads/tx_pracetmo/AdvFTN_handout.pdf
still needs in-depth analysis, even though I cannot reproduce 'terminally ill'

src/config.f90

@@ -20,11 +20,10 @@ module config
  type, public :: tPartitionedStringList
    type(tPartitionedString)               :: string
    type(tPartitionedStringList),  pointer :: next => null()
-
    contains
      procedure :: add            => add
      procedure :: show           => show
-     procedure :: free           => free
+     !procedure :: free           => free
 
      procedure :: keyExists      => keyExists
      procedure :: countKeys      => countKeys
@@ -36,6 +35,7 @@ module config
      procedure :: getFloats      => getFloats
      procedure :: getInts        => getInts
      procedure :: getStrings     => getStrings
+   final :: free
 
  end type tPartitionedStringList
 
@@ -244,42 +244,42 @@ subroutine config_deallocate(what)
  character(len=*), intent(in) :: what
  integer(pInt) :: i
 
-! select case(what)
-!
-!   case('material.config/phase')
+ select case(what)
+
+   case('material.config/phase')
      !do i=1, size(config_phase)
      !  call config_phase(i)%free
      !enddo
-!     deallocate(config_phase)
-!
-!   case('material.config/microstructure')
+     deallocate(config_phase)
+
+   case('material.config/microstructure')
      !do i=1, size(config_microstructure)
      !  call config_microstructure(i)%free
      !enddo
-!     deallocate(config_microstructure)
-!
-!   case('material.config/crystallite')
+     deallocate(config_microstructure)
+
+   case('material.config/crystallite')
      !do i=1, size(config_crystallite)
      !  call config_crystallite(i)%free
      !enddo
-!     deallocate(config_crystallite)
-!
-!   case('material.config/homogenization')
+     deallocate(config_crystallite)
+
+   case('material.config/homogenization')
      !do i=1, size(config_homogenization)
      !  call config_homogenization(i)%free
      !enddo
-!     deallocate(config_homogenization)
-!
-!   case('material.config/texture')
+     deallocate(config_homogenization)
+
+   case('material.config/texture')
      !do i=1, size(config_texture)
      !  call config_texture(i)%free
      !enddo
-!     deallocate(config_texture)
-!
-!   case default
-!     call IO_error(0_pInt,ext_msg='config_deallocate')
-!
-! end select
+     deallocate(config_texture)
+
+   case default
+     call IO_error(0_pInt,ext_msg='config_deallocate')
+
+ end select
 
 end subroutine config_deallocate
 
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ end subroutine show
 subroutine free(this)
 
   implicit none
-  class(tPartitionedStringList),  target, intent(in) :: this
+  type(tPartitionedStringList),  target, intent(in) :: this
   type(tPartitionedStringList),   pointer            :: new, item
 
   if (.not. associated(this%next)) return