Franklyn Frank Wilbur Gonyea

GONYEA, Frank W., 86, of Gulfport, Florida, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Suncoast Hospice Care Center Mid Pinellas in Pinellas Park, Florida. He was born August 27, 1928 in Whitehall, New York, the son of Wilbur C. and Ruth M. (Morse) Gonyea. Frank was a Korean War Veteran serving in the US Air Force from 1950 to 1954. After leaving the service, he continued his education attending the RPI College in Troy New York and the Howard Hughes Flying School. He later worked as an inspector for the Douglas Aircraft Company in California and retired from Norton Sealants as an extruder operator. He moved to Florida in 1986 from Granville, New York. Frank was an avid and accomplished musician playing guitar and pedal steel guitar.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite; a brother, Donald; and a sister, Helen Graves.

Survivors include sons, Frank W. Gonyea, Jr., Michael C. Gonyea, and his wife Tammy, Mark A. Gonyea, and his wife Lisa, and John A. Gonyea; daughters, Therese A. Gonyea and companion, Stephen Wereley, and Michelle L. Mead, and her husband Joseph; sisters, Marian Day, and Betsy Graves; grandchildren, Rachel, Richard, Kelly, Matthew, Martin, Jr., Ashley, Joshua, and Dillon Gonyea, Jessica Cartier (Gary), and Adam and Andrew Holcomb; great grandson, Hunter Cartier; and his beloved toy poodle, Peppy.

Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st St. Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.