Frank Newsom Renfro Jr. was an honorable man, coming from humble beginnings. He was quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, disciplined, and orderly in everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always ready and prepared to take on the responsibility at hand.
Compassionate and devoted to Constance, Frank held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to Constance and used his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, making his family a priority. Together they enjoyed traveling all over Europe several times.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank N. Renfro, and Martha Carol Knight. Frank was raised in San Antonio. He is survived by his wife of 54 years Constance; his daughter Shawn Parrish and husband Christopher Parrish and son Frank (Chad) Renfro and wife Tami Jo Renfro; his grandchildren, Kyle Renfro and wife Wendy Renfro, Jake Renfro, Lauren Renfro, Avery Parrish, Adam Parrish, Aidan Parrish, Kayla Clark, and Marissa Osborn and husband Sam Osborn. He is also survived by three sisters, Carol Anne Francis, Martha Kay Schutter, and Mary Tom Milam, and numerous nieces and nephews.
During his youth, Frank was actively involved in sports including baseball, football, and track. Frank was very involved in academia and was a member of the National Honor Society. He graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1965. He then went on to McNeese College in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on a football scholarship.
He enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the submarines, USS G.W. Carver (SSBN656) and USS B. Franklin (SSBN640) between 1967 and 1973, as Fire Control Technician for ballistic missiles. Throughout his service he was stationed in, Groton Connecticut, Rota Spain, and Holy Loch Scotland.
Post his naval career, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston in 1976. After graduation, he worked for US Steel as a member of the management team until 1987. He then went to work for EMPAK, where he became Vice President of Operations. After, EMPAK, he went to Birmingham, Alabama to work for Acutus Gladwin. Finally, he made a transition to Invesco in 2004 to the present. He used his exceptional memory and his logic to manage situations as they arose whether they were family-related, work-related, or hobby related.
Throughout his life, Frank held a passion for hunting and the outdoors. He shared this passion with his favorite hunting buddy, his son Chad. They explored and traveled to many states experiencing all the different aspects of what hunting entails. They enjoyed hunting in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico, the woods of Alabama, and exploring the plains of Kansas. He spent most of his outdoor life outside of the small-town Inez, Texas, where he instilled a love of nature in his grandchildren.
Commitment is a keyword that can be used to describe the life of Frank Newsom Renfro Jr. he was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to traditional values and integrity that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to be a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved. A life well lived.
A visitation for Frank will be held Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will occur on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., and an interment to follow. All services will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home and Cemetery located at 21620 Gulf Freeway in Webster, Texas. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Renfro family.
PALLBEARERS
Kyle Renfro
Jake Renfro
Lauren Renfro
Avery Parrish
Adam Parrish
Aidan Parrish
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