Frank Dechard Raven

Frank Dechard Raven passed on to the angels Sunday, November 17, 2019. Born November 28, 1926 in Austin, Texas, Frank was preceded in death by his loving wife, Brenda Brick Raven, and brothers O’Brien and Travis Raven.

Frank leaves five children: Rick, Craig and his wife Darlene, Gary and his wife Allana, and daughters Rene Weber and Lisa Wilson. Frank also leaves two step sons, Donald Brick and his wife Dina, and Steven Brick and his wife Angie, as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and a niece.

Frank was the great grandson of Ernst Raven who immigrated from Coburg Saxony to Austin and the Republic of Texas in 1844. Subsequent generations of Ravens still call Austin home. Frank’s Dad passed away when he was three. His Mother, known as Frankie, took on many jobs to support her young family. As was common at the time, this required Frank and his brothers to alternate staying with grandparents or other relatives and friends of the family. Frank worked odd jobs from the time he was a young boy. Some of his fondest memories were of the times he lived with his grandparents Joe and Susie Benskin in Cherokee, Texas. There he rode a pony every day to school and to the surrounding creeks and woods. He slept on a screened porch with his cousins regardless of the season.

When Frank started high school, World War II was in its second year. A gifted running back, Frank was compared favorably to his older brother, Travis, a former All-State fullback at Austin High School. When his best friend joined the service in August, 1944, Frank was compelled to forgo his senior season and with his Mother’s permission, joined the Navy at age seventeen. Frank served two tours across the Pacific, first in the Philippines and then in Saipan.

After the war, Frank returned to Austin and worked as a car mechanic at Covert Buick Co. A couple of years later he went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone, where he retired after thirty-one years of service. During all his working years Frank worked second jobs to help support his family. After retirement, Frank came into an age of self-enlightenment: he got his GED, took courses at a junior college and particularly enjoyed psychology classes, and learned to dance again.

Frank had a second phase of life, which started after his retirement and later marriage to Brenda. He became outgoing, politically active, and engaged in numerous projects when he and Brenda were not fishing from their waterfront home at Tiki Island outside of Galveston, Texas. Frank became an alderman on the City Council and later Mayor Pro-Tem. He and Brenda helped raise funds for the construction of Tiki Island’s first church….when they weren’t fishing of course. For over thirty-six years, Frank and Brenda led very active and fulfilling lives. When Brenda passed on to the Lord so did a part of Frank. He can now join her and get back to fishing full-time.

Funeral Service will be 12:00 PM, Saturday, November 23, 2019 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas. Graveside Service will be 2:15 PM at Oakwood Annex Cemetery, 1600 Comal Street, Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation.