Chaplain Col. Frank Davis Metcalf (Ret.)

Frank was born in Panacea, Florida and grew up near Sopchoppy, Florida. He received a B.S degree in Business from Florida State University (1957), an M. Div. degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC (1962), and an M.S. in Education degree from the University of Southern California (1969). He did postgraduate studies in counseling at Pepperdine University (1972), University of Southern Mississippi (1974), LaVerne University (1977), University of Denver (1978-79), University of Kentucky (1980), and Troy State University (1986). Frank was a certified instructor in the Bethel Bible Series, Parent Effectiveness Training (PET), Christian Marriage Enrichment, Couples Communication, Transactional Analysis, and Positive Image Building. Other seminars he developed and taught were Caring for the Caregiver, Making Decisions, Clarifying Values, Dealing with Drugs, Growing Through Grief, How to Cope with Stress, Marriage Enrichment, Stretching Money, Traits of Healthy Families, and Understanding the Emotions.

Frank met the love of his life, Carolyn Reeves, at Lakeview Baptist Church in 1949. Carolyn and Frank had been dating on and off as good friends during Carolyn's last year in high school and then while she was in college. Suddenly, in the summer of 1950, the Korean War turned their lives upside down. They became more serious about their relationship and decided to get married and were married eight months after Frank enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. They always commented on having lived a wonderful life and would not change anything.

After Frank’s service in the Air Force and later graduating from FSU and going on to seminary, Frank was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in North Carolina (1959). Rev. Metcalf served as pastor of Mount Adar Baptist Church, Mebane, North Carolina (1959-1961) and New Chapel Baptist Church, Rustburg, Virginia (1961-1963).

During Frank’s first week in seminary, a representative from the Home Mission Board arrived to talk to students about chaplaincy. Frank wanted to go, but Carolyn said, “I thought you never wanted to see another blue uniform.” He convinced her to go by saying, “I meant as an enlisted person. It will be different as a chaplain and officer. I know I can help those guys." Frank and Carolyn enjoyed the opportunities that Frank had in the Air Force as a Chaplain with all the wonderful people they met and places that they discovered.

Frank received a direct commission as a chaplain in the Air Force, and his first assignment was K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan (1963-1966). Other assignments included Evreux- Fauville Air Base, France (July 1966 through November 1966), Ramstein Air Base, West Germany (1966-1969), Castle Air Force Base, California (1969-1970), Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam (1970-1971), and Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi (1971-1974). In August 1974, he entered Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Chaplain Metcalf was assigned to the United States Forces in Korea Joint Command in July 1975. Even though he was an Air Force chaplain, he served as Deputy Eighth Army chaplain in Seoul, Korea for the two years he was assigned to the United Nations Command. Additional assignments: Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado as Chief of the Professional Division (1977-1979); Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado (1979-1980) as Senior Protestant Chaplain; Ramstein Air Force Base, West Germany as Chief of the Professional Division USAFE (1980-1982); Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi as Center Chaplain (1983-1985); and Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama as Installation Staff Chaplain (1985-1986).

Frank retired from the Air Force with the rank of Colonel on October 31, 1986. His military decorations and awards included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Medal of Honor, First Class. He also was given a Good Conduct Medal when he served in the enlisted ranks of the Air Force (1951-1955).

While in the Air Force, Chaplain Metcalf and his wife developed a Marriage Enrichment seminar. Not only did they teach this course to Air Force couples, but they were asked to teach the couples in local churches where they were stationed. In 2007, the Florida Baptist Convention invited them to certify 15 chaplains and their wives so they could teach the Seminar. In February 1987, Chaplain Metcalf became the Chaplaincy Services Administrator for the Florida Department of Corrections. He was responsible for the religious activities at 32 institutions with over 32,000 inmates with 43 chaplains to carry out those activities. His job included serving as pastor to the chaplains also.

He identified several problems in the Corrections system and took steps to correct them: a chaplain’s manual was created to assure standardization of activities, a training program was established for new chaplains, plans for chapel buildings were designed, funds were secured to build chapels at existing institutions, funds were budgeted for new institutions, and a career ladder was established to provide opportunity for chaplain progression. At the time of Chaplain Metcalf’s retirement in May 1993, the Department of Corrections had increased to 45 institutions with over 53,000 inmates and 75 chaplains. Sixteen new chapels had been built during his tenure with money he secured from the State and volunteer resources.

After moving to Oyster Bay in Wakulla County, Chaplain Metcalf became the unofficial Pastor of Seafarers Chapel at Shell Point in the Fall of 1992 and Pastoral Counselor for First Baptist Church in Crawfordville, FL (1994-1998). He conducted seminars for the chapel, the church, and Community. Frank and Carolyn led Stretching Money seminars for Habitat for Humanity to help candidates learn how to budget, etc. Frank spoke several times a year and conducted services once a quarter on Communion Sundays, the Easter Sunrise service, and the Christmas Eve service at Seafarers Chapel. He counseled people, visited people in the hospital, officiated at marriage ceremonies and funerals for the Seafarers Chapel and the community. As of May 2015, he decided to speak only at the communion services once a quarter and the Christmas Candlelight Service. In May 2019, Frank and his wife Carolyn moved to Tallahassee.

Frank was a wonderful counselor to all. He was a kind, gentle, easygoing and loving soul. Frank is survived by his wife of 70 years, Carolyn; his sons, Tom and Ken (Debbie); grandchildren David, Jamie (Justin) and Annalee; and great-grandchildren Layne, Olive and River. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Second Harvest of the Big Bend, 4446 Entrepot Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32310. (https://fightinghunger.org)

A visitation for Frank will be held Monday, January 17, 2022 from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 1737 Riggins Rd, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. A funeral service with military honors will occur Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32311.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWood.com for the Metcalf family