Francis A. Hanna

Francis “Frank” Andrew Hanna, 91, passed away on May 28, 2026 in Palm Coast, FL, where he lived with his beloved late wife, Eileen. He was born on Feb 9, 1935, in Glenfield, PA, to his loving parents, Edward and Elizabeth and raised by his loving foster parents, Julius and Emma Palak. He is survived by one sister Alberta Cavanaugh; 5 children, Mark, Scott, Lynn, Jill, and Joy; 10 Grandchildren, Lindsay, Jessica, Michael, Alex, Frank, Emma, Daniel, Katherine, Ella, Ethan, Maria; 10 Great Grandchildren, Ava, Mathew, Milani, Xavier, Timothy, Aleah, Amaya, Noah, Lucas, and Wyatt. He was predeceased by 5 siblings, Margaret Mellor, Mary James, Edward Hanna, Elizabeth Granger, and Samuel Hanna.

Francis was a devout Catholic and attended church for years at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church with his late wife, Eileen. He actively volunteered in church fundraising events such as supporting Eileen starting Michelle's Angels Cancer Relay for Life Team, was president of the Mens Club, helped with youth activities, did Eucharistic Adoration, and prayer group.

Francis attended Penn State in the ROTC program before he enlisted in the Navy where he served as Electronic Technician (ET school in Chicago) on the U.S.S. Coral Sea until 1963. He graduated with a B.S. in Physics at Duquesne University in1965. Post graduation, Francis was employed as a Physicist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in 1965, where his work concentrated on the Polaris and Poseidon missile equipped submarines. In 1971, his work continued with the Naval Intelligence Support Center in Washington, DC where he supported submarine missile research and testing from 1971 to 1980. Francis had an accomplished career and worked with the Air Force (F-15 aircraft satellite missile defense), Navy (Trident submarine), and Army, which has led to our countries defense systems that we use today in the United States. Francis retired as Principal Engineer/Quality Assurance at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD with his work on the Hubble Space Telescope.

Francis “Frank” Hanna will be truly missed by his friends and family. He left a legacy for the defense of the United States and left behind many memories that his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will cherish forever. May God Bless his soul and bring him rest.

Donations in his memory may be made to either Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church or Gabriel House of Care.

A viewing will be held at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm, followed by a funeral service at 3:30 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church on Tuesday June 16, 2026, 10:30am followed by a committal service with military honors at Flagler Memorial Gardens.