Was born in Rock Hill, SC on January 26, 1938. He was the oldest of three children born to Frank W. Berry Sr. and Alyce M. Berry.
His father was a policeman and city council member, and his mother was a school teacher.
He knew from a young age he wanted to be a doctor, after being impressed by the warm hearted professionalism of a doctor that had made house calls to his family’s home in Rock Hill.
In pursuit of his dream, Frank Jr. excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. He attended college at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, graduating cum laude in 1959. He then attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, graduating cum laude in 1963. He went on to serve his country as a doctor in the United States Air Force, earning the Flight Surgeon of the Year award in 1966. He earned additional medals for his service during the Vietnam War, including the Airman’s Medal for Heroism, for putting his life at risk to pull an airman from a burning aircraft. Dr. Berry then furthered his academic credentials, earning a Master of Public Health degree from John’s Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1967. He did a residency in aerospace medicine, and went on to become the National Chairman of the Section on Aerospace and Military Medicine of the National Medical Association. During the latter half of his Air Force career, Dr. Berry specialized in dermatology. In his final assignment, he achieved the rank of full colonel, and was commander of the US Air Force hospital at Castle Air Force Base. He retired from the Air Force in 1982 and started a private practice in Dermatology and cosmetic surgery. In addition to serving the Merced community in his private practice, he also served as a past president of the Merced-Mariposa County medical society, and on the Mercy Hospital Foundation Board. He was Rotarian, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He retired from private practice in 2018.
Dr. Berry was married to Danice Dorothy (James) Berry, whom he met at Davis Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, AZ, and they had three children: Jamie, Frank III and Max. During his military career, the Berry family moved often, and lived in Texas, Japan, Maryland, and the Philippines before settling in California.
Dr. Berry is survived by his three children, and a granddaughter, Lily Grace Berry. By God’s design, Frank Berry was the best father and husband we could ask for, and the greatest gift in life.
He was a kind hearted man, who took great joy in helping people, and credited all of his accomplishments in life to the glory of God. He lived his life in service of the Lord, and encouraged others to look to God for guidance and fulfillment.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratfordevansfunerals.com for the Berry family.
