William Land

William "Frank" Land, 88, of Mansfield, died Thursday, June 6, 2013 at Brethren Care Nursing Center in Ashland. He was born January 18, 1925 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to the late Columbus A. and Mahalia E. (Gaskill) Land. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Army, 91st Infantry Division in North Africa and Italy.

Frank was one of the last employees at Mansfield Tire and Rubber Co. working 35 years from 1946-1981 and retiring as supervisor of the Power House. He was sent to the Mansfield Tire and Rubber Plant in Madras, India for two years, overseeing the installation and running of equipment to manufacture tires. He also was sent to Egypt for six months to oversee production. After his retirement, he worked at Russell Spreng and Son, finally retiring to the life of leisure he so well deserved.

He was an accomplished craftsman and enjoyed woodworking the most. Frank was an avid gardener and one of his favorite activities was camping with his family. He loved to travel and had been to every state except Alaska. Frank was a wonderful, husband, father and grandfather. His family will forever treasure the time spent with Frank and fondly remember his fun-loving, jokester personality.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bonnie Jean (Edwards) Land, whom he married on April 5, 1946; four children, Mick (Cindy) McCune of Mansfield, Terri (Bob) Slessman of Attica, Gala (Dale) Goddard of Bellville and Tonda (Doug) Kelley of SC; and fourteen grandchildren, Ronda Yoxtheimer of Attica, Jeff (Candace) McCune of MO; Aimee Jerger of Mansfield, Colleen (Adam) Decaire of TX, Christopher (Melissa) Slessman of Republic, Erica Stulpin of NC, Kristen (Lance) Werner of MI, Korey (Tonya) Kelley of FL, Andrew (Amelia) Kelley of NC, Kyle (Alexis) Stone of FL, Keith Kelley of Cleveland, and Kayla, Abbe and Ashley Kelley, all of SC. He is also survived by a sister, Imogene (Herman) Dunbar of NC; nineteen great-grandchildren, Taylor and Blake Yoxtheimer, Brooke, Kale and Roczen McCune, Hayden Slessman, Patrick, Alex, Zane, and Mackenzie Jerger, Zachary, Ryan and Zoey Decaire, Tyler Stulpin, Alexis Baker, Catina, Morgan, Adelaide and Porter Werner; and two great-great grandchildren, Blakleigh and Braxton Michalovich. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Julian and Kenneth Land.

Friends and family may visit from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013 at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield. The funeral service conducted by Pastor Chris Lewis will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home followed by burial in Mansfield Memorial Park. Military honors will be presented by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail.

And lastly, to quote Frank, "see you in the funny papers".