Jack D. Frank of Hermitage, Tennessee, peacefully passed away on April 25, 2020. He was 94. The consensus, from anyone who had the pleasure of getting to know him, is, “he was the sort of charming person you love the moment you met him.” In a lot of ways, he led a charmed life; he was of the Greatest Generation, narrowly survived the war, and was widely loved and admired by his wife, family, friends and acquaintances.
Jack shared his love of art, music, dancing and the theater with his children and grandchildren. He and Rita were well known for throwing elaborate holiday parties and could always be counted on to have open doors for friends and family to share any celebration. He loved to entertain and in particular enjoyed hosting poker games, which he always seemed to win. More recently he enjoyed several trips to visit his grandchildren for Thanksgiving that he dubbed Franksgiving, the most recent of which was celebrated in Seattle just last year.
Jack was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania on November 4, 1925, and married Rita Yvonne Vicker, a teacher, on May 27, 1955. After graduating Leechburg High School in 1943, he enlisted in the US Army and served honorably during WWII in the European Theater. Post war, he studied at the Pittsburgh Institute of Art, then operated his own business as an interior decorator for several years. He worked at Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation in management until he retired. In Pennsylvania, he served at his churches Hebron Lutheran, and Bethesda Lutheran. He was active in VFW Post 92 holding several elected positions impacting the lives of veterans locally, across Pennsylvania, and nationally.
Jack and Rita moved to Hermitage, Tennessee in 2003 to be closer to their children and grandchildren where they fell in love with Nashville and Tennessee. He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran and was also active at the FiftyForward Donelson Station senior center where he volunteered on the activities committee. He was often called on to speak to school children on Veterans Day. He was publicly honored by the Nashville Predators at a game on Veterans Day representing WWII veterans.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife Rita of 55 years. He is survived by his son Roderick and his daughter Marta as well as his daughter-in-law Beverly and his grandchildren Andrew, Rebecca and Spencer.
An online streaming memorial service will be held at 11AM CT on Saturday, May 23, 2020. See the webpage or JDFservice.rodfrank.org for details. (Please copy the web address into your browser.). He will be interred at the Nashville National Cemetery with military honors.
Please share your memories of Jack online at JDFmemories.rodfrank.org or here on this webpage. Memorial donations can be given to the Wounded Warriors Project in his name online via JDFdonate.rodfrank.org, or to St. John’s Lutheran Church Tornado Relief Fund online at stjohnsnashville.org. Links are located below.
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