Judge Frank H. Crain

Frank Harrington Crain was born January 21, 1921, in Victoria, Texas to Francis Harrington and Corinne Staerker Crain; deceased June 9, 2011. He was a graduate of Patti Welder High School in the class of 1938, and attended Schreiner Institute and the University of Texas Austin, from where he received a law degree in 1948.

He enlisted as a private in the U. S. Army in January 1942 following Pearl Harbor and the declaration of war against Japan. He served in the China Burma India theatre and received a campaign service star. He received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army infantry in Sept. 1943 and served with the 10th Mountain Division. He saw action in the European theatre and received campaign service stars for the Battle of the Po Valley and the Battle of the Apennines, both in Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious service during combat, and the Good Conduct Medal. Following military service he completed his legal education and returned to Victoria to practice law.

He served in the State Legislature from 1953-1955, and was elected Victoria County Judge in 1955. He served until 1959, when he was appointed by Gov. Price Daniel to fill the unexpired term of Judge Frank Martin. He served as judge of the 135th District Court from July 1959 until his resignation in August 1988, and subsequently joined the law firm (of counsel) of Cole McManus Cole Easley & Bell. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

He served as a vestryman of Trinity Episcopal Church, and was a founding member and vestryman of St. Francis Episcopal Church, where he served a term as senior warden. He also served on several committees for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

He is a member of the Victoria Rotary Club and a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship award. He received the South Texas Council of Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Citizen of the Year award in 2004. He served as president of the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was founding president of the Gulf Bend Foundation, serving from 1963 to 1967. He served as a board member for the following organizations: CASA, Victoria Community Theater, Victoria Youth Home, Foster Parents, Victoria Symphony, Victoria County Courthouse Restoration Committee, and the Victoria College Foundation.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Olive Bell Crain, and his daughters Dr. Pamela Crain (Salt Lake City, UT); Olive (Bebe) Crain (San Antonio, TX), and Julie Heinitsh and her husband, John (Brevard, NC), and their sons John, Jr. and Henry. He is predeceased by his parents and his daughter Katherine.

Following a private graveside service with military honors performed by the Victoria Veterans Council, a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church. The Reverend Faith E. Bledsoe, rector of Saint Francis Episcopal Church, and the Rt. Reverend David M. Reed, Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas will be the celebrants.

Honorary pallbearers are Frank S. Buhler, Charles Callis, Jr., Rick Campbell, Rex Easley, Travis Edwards, Jim Furness, Marc Garrett, Judge Dan Gilliam, Milton Greeson, Phillip Guittard, Mike Kelly, Judge Pat Kelly, Robert McKay, Robert McCan, Pete Rosas, Will Sciba, Neal Stevenson, Jim Stofer, Leslie Totah, Tali Villafranca and Roger Welder; and members of the bar and courts of the 135th Judicial District and of the La Dolce Vita dinner club.

Should family and friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, Special Olympics, or the charity of their choice.

Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rosewood Funeral Chapels, 3304 Mockingbird Lane, Victoria, Texas, 77904, 361/573-4546.