Francis F. Rotter (Frank) died on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at his home on Merritt Island. Frank was born February 9, 1919 in St. Louis, MO. The family moved to Spokane, WA the next year where Frank grew up and went to school. In 1941 he graduated from Washington State. Before graduating, he signed up for the Marines and was called to active duty after Pearl Harbor. He served in the Pacific theater as a fighter pilot, flying the F4U Corsair. While stationed in Hawaii Frank met his future wife, Hazel. Frank and Hazel were married in Edenton, NC on May 5, 1949. Frank continued in the Marines, flying the F9F Panther jet out of Cherry Point, NC, where his first two sons were born. He served in the Korean War flying the F9F in combat. In 1952 he was stationed at the MCAS in Miami, FL, where his son and two daughters were born. After 5 years in Miami he was stationed at Cherry Point, NC, Quantico, VA and Albany, GA, retiring from the Marine Corps in Dearborn, MI in 1968 as a Lt. Colonel after 27 years of service.
In 1968 he moved with his family to Merritt Island. Frank worked for TWA at KSC during the Apollo moon landings. He next worked for the State of FL for 10 years, retiring in 1981. For the next 25 years Frank and Hazel traveled extensively in the U.S. and all over the world. Their son, Rob, passed away on June 7, 1994 and Frank’s beloved wife, Hazel, passed away on August 17, 2006. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Mary.
Survivors are his loving children, Michael, of Pinellas Park, FL, Thomas and wife, Patty, of El Paso, TX, Patty and husband, Anton Bernhardt, of Tigard, OR, and Mary and husband, David Green, of Lauderhill, FL.
Frank was a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church. A viewing will be held on Friday, June 13, 2014 from 7-8 p.m. at Brevard Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 320 Spring St., Cocoa, FL. The funeral service will be at 9 a.m. on June 14, 2014 at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 1940 N. Courtney Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL. Burial Service will follow at the cemetery located at Brevard Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 320 Spring St, Cocoa, FL.
Arrangements under the direction of Brevard Memorial Funeral Home, Cocoa, FL.
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