Frank Vande Linde

Born in a small coal mining town in West Virginia to Otto and Ethel Vande Linde, Frank grew up in Boone County during the Great Depression. He attended school in a one-room school house during his early years and graduated from Scott High School in 1943. Shortly thereafter, at the height of World War II, he was inducted into the United States Navy. While in the Navy, Frank served as a gunner on Liberty ship convoys across the Atlantic Ocean and participated in the Normandy invasion. He also served in the Pacific Theater after the Germans surrendered to end the war in Europe. Last year, he was awarded the Convoy Cup Award by the American Merchant Marine Veterans organization, an award which recognized courage under enemy fire. After the war, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from West Virginia University, followed by his Master’s degree from Duke University.

In 1950, Frank married Mona Kathleen Lynch, and they moved to Brunswick to begin their life together.

He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Brunswick, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and Elder for many years. Frank worked as Senior Research Forester for Brunswick Pulp and Paper Company where he managed the nursery and genetics program until his retirement in 1989. After retiring, Frank wore many hats in service to his community. He served at Manna House for over 20 years and helped build the first Habitat for Humanity house in Brunswick. For ten years, he served as chairman of the City Park and Tree Commission, supervising the planting of several hundred oak trees. Frank loved Brunswick and wanted to do his part to make the city better. One of Frank’s favorite hobbies was grafting. He was especially known for his grafting of fruit trees and camellias and frequently traveled from Florida all the way to West Virginia sharing this gift. Frank held a personal goal of trying to do at least one good deed every day, no matter how small. He treasured his family above all else, and instilled in his children the importance of “helping the one that’s down”.

Frank Vande Linde, age 99, died peacefully on Sunday, February 11, 2024, just 110 days shy of his 100th birthday. He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters, and his beloved wife, Kathleen. He is survived by his 4 children (Sara Giannakakis, Mary Ann Vande Linde, Gary Vande Linde, and Scott Vande Linde), 7 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and a great multitude of propagated plants and trees.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Presbyterian Church (Brunswick) or Hospice of the Golden Isles. His family would also like to express their gratitude to Frank’s caregivers, James Johnson and Kiera Mason, and to Michael Relyea with Hospice of the Golden Isles.