Frank Hatch

He was born in Oberlin, Kansas. January 3, 1926 to Edward Washington Hatch and Mildred Emily Orr Hatch.

He spent most of his childhood years in Crescent, Oklahoma with his Dad and his brothers and his sisters. His Mom passed away when he was only 10 years old so he very quickly became a hard worker and loyal to his family.

In March of 1944, at 18 years of age, he was inducted into the United States Army. He served in World War II as a demolition specialist in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and he was awarded the World War II Victory Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the EAME Theater Ribbon. He was awarded Three Bronze Service Stars and the Purple Heart.

After returning home from his Army service he went to Guthrie, Oklahoma where he met the love of his life, Jessie Elizabeth Jones. They were married on April 14, 1947 in Anthony, Kansas. They established their home in Guthrie, Oklahoma where they lived until 1953 when they moved to Oklahoma City. They built a home shortly thereafter and lived there for 62 years. When their health began to decline and dementia took its toll on Frank, they moved to Norman, Oklahoma to live with their daughter, Millie and Son-in-law Skip. In May of 2016, dementia robbed Frank of his memory of even knowing his family members and he moved into the Norman Veterans Center where he lived until he passed from this life.

Frank gave his life to Christ at an early age in the Assembly of God church in Crescent, Oklahoma and he was always active in church and Bible study even into his last months of life at the Veterans Center. Even when he did not know his family, He would talk of his Lord and Savior and would look at pictures of his brothers and sisters and parents and state that he would join them in Heaven one day. Franks faith was strong and sure to the end of this earthly life.

Frank spent many years of his working life at Swick Automotive in Oklahoma City where he both worked and managed much of the daily routine of the business. When Swick Automotive closed, he went to work for Dolese Brothers in Oklahoma City and retired from there in 1991 as a Heavy Truck Mechanic. His mechanic skills were top-notch, and all of his family benefitted from this skill many times.

Frank is survived by his wife, Jessie. They were married for 72 years. He is also survived by his daughter Millie and husband Skip of Norman, Son, Edwin of Norman and Son Jimmie Don of Oklahoma City.

He is also survived by his brother, Eldon of Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Frank is also survived by three grandchildren, Granddaughter Lisa Goforth and husband Chuck of Oklahoma City, Grandson Mark Heflin and wife Krystal of Oklahoma City and Grandson JD Hatch of Oklahoma City. He leaves behind 10 Great-Grandchildren—Great-Grandsons, Craig Goforth and wife Shelby, Conner Goforth and wife Alyssa, Anthony Baza-Heflin, and Mark Aaron Heflin II. Great-Granddaughters Karli Goforth, Joslyn Heflin, Kelsie Goforth and Kaylee Goforth. He is also survived by two Great Great Grandsons that he never got to know Beckham Reece Goforth and Jonah Skip Goforth. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who all loved him dearly.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mildred Hatch, his brother Ivan Hatch and sisters Irene Dunlap, Vera Wallace and Francis Nichols. Because Frank was blessed with a long earthly life, he was preceded in death by his in-laws and many many friends and relatives that meant so much to him.

No public memorial service is planned at this time. His desire was to have a memorial service for his family when he and his wife Jessie were both in Heaven.

His family will miss him greatly and will cherish many wonderful memories.