Frank Caldwell

Frank was born to Francis Marion Caldwell, Sr. and Lillian Vera Bank Caldwell at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas on August 21, 1920 and grew up in Smithville, Texas. He and his family have resided in Pearland, Texas since 1974.

Frank proudly served his country in World War II in the South Pacific as a Tech Sergeant in the United States Army, 542nd Amphibious Engineers. He drove LCMs in the Philippine Islands and New Guinea, once with General Douglas MacArthur aboard his boat.

Later he attended Technical School at the University of Houston for air conditioning, heating, and pipe fitting and is a 50+ year member of Pipefitters Local 211 Union. He retired after 30 years of service from The Warren Co., Inc. in 1986. Frank is also a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Arabia Shriners Temple in Houston, where he volunteered countless hours. Frank and Dorothy have been faithful members of Park Place Baptist Church in Houston over 40 years.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his devoted wife, Dorothy Valrie Graves Caldwell, recently celebrating their 68th anniversary together on August 31, 2014. He is also survived by their son, Terry Caldwell, and his wife, Debra, and their children, Kirby Lee Caldwell and Stacy Caldwell Nesrsta and her husband, Andrew, and his daughter, Frances Valrie Caldwell Watts, her husband, Kent, and their two children, Tyler Caldwell Watts and Angela Elise Watts. He is also survived by his brother, James Herman Caldwell and his wife, Pat, of Smithville and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, TX 77023. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 11, at Forest Park Lawndale. After the graveside service, a reception will be held at Park Place Baptist Church, 4101 Broadway, Houston, TX, 77087.

Frank was one of the greatest of “The Greatest Generation.” He will be sorely missed. If desired, donations may be made in Frank’s memory to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 10510 Harwin Dr., Houston, TX 77036.