Mr. Frank C. Lupo

Frank Charles Lupo died on December 25, 2011 at Asbury Care Center in Charlotte, North Carolina after a long illness. He was eighty-nine years old.

Frank was born on March 12, 1922, the son of the late Frank Coke Lupo and Clara McCarthy Lupo. He was a native of Columbia, South Carolina.

Frank graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. While at USC, he joined the Naval ROTC Unit and immediately after graduation, entered the US Navy submarine training school at the Naval Submarine Base in New London, Connecticut as an Ensign. He served four years during World War II in the South Pacific aboard the USS Piranha, a Balao class submarine. During that time, he rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. Frank did not consider his service during World War II an obligation; rather he believed it was his duty and an honor.

Frank spent a long career in a number of engineering and management positions with DuPont Corporation, Daniel Construction Company and Celanese Corporation, retiring from Celanese in Shelby, North Carolina in 1982. He was highly respected within the engineering community as a smart, effective manager, and as an ethical businessperson. He expected from others what he expected from himself – that they work hard and give their best effort.

Frank was a lifelong Methodist, who served the church tirelessly in many lay capacities over many years. He was generous with his time and other resources, and was active throughout his life in reaching out to those less fortunate, serving on boards and working in a variety of capacities with The Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, The Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Friendship Trays and most recently, tutoring at risk children through the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. In past years, Frank also led a number of mission trips to Haiti. Frank is particularly remembered for his work with the Boy Scouts. He was the long time Scoutmaster for Troop 104 at Central United Methodist Church in Shelby, North Carolina. Additionally, he served on a number of Boy Scout advisory boards, and was instrumental in the development of the new Schiele Boy Scout Camp for the Piedmont Council located outside Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Some of Frank’s happiest times were spent on Boy Scout camping trips.

Family was of the highest priority to Frank. He led a happy household, which typified the best efforts and dreams of Post War America. There, hard work, personal discipline, Christian charity and frugality were taught through both word and, more importantly, Frank’s quiet example. He stressed the importance of education and continually encouraged his children to “always do your best,” but was quick to add that “that will be enough.”

An avid outdoorsman, Frank enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping, and passed his love of the outdoors on to his children. He enjoyed sports of all kinds, and never met a baseball game that he didn’t like.

Frank will be fondly remembered by his family and those who knew him as an energetic, funny and generous man, who expected the best from everyone, but who gave even more.

Frank is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Jeanne Parsons Lupo. He is also survived by his daughter, Susan Elizabeth Lupo and her husband, Andrew DuVal Taylor, Jr., and their family, Andrew DuVal Taylor, III (Jennifer), Robin Taylor Belk (Jacob), Katherine Hope Taylor, Martha Kay Taylor, and Taylor Ann Belk. Frank’s son, Dickson McCarthy Lupo and his wife Anne Keith Lupo, and Frank’s two beloved granddaughters, Mary Katherine Parsons Lupo and Elizabeth McCarthy Lupo, also survive him. Frank was predeceased by his sister, Georgia A. Lupo of Columbia, South Carolina.

Frank’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Second Floor staff at the Asbury Care Center for their compassionate care of Frank and his family.

A Funeral Service celebrating Frank’s life will be held at Myers Park United Methodist Church in the Francis Chapel, on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at eleven o’clock in the morning. The family will receive friends after the service. A private burial will follow. Harry and Bryant Company is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Aldersgate Supplemental Assistance Fund, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28215.