Frank John Delbridge Jr.

Frank John Delbridge, 86, passed away on September 27, 2021 at DCH in Tuscaloosa. A Graveside Funeral Service, with Military Honors, will be held on Wednesday, October 06, 2021 at Noon, from Memory Hill Gardens, Garden of the Last Supper, with Pastor Mitch Nethery officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Memory Chapel, a Dignity Memorial provider.

Mr. Delbridge was preceded in death by his father Frank John Delbridge, Sr., mother Ruby Jane Maddox Delbridge, brother George Riley Delbridge, sisters Grace Lorene Delbridge and Margaret Elizabeth Delbridge, and a wife Linda Delbridge.

Frank John Delbridge was born on August 14, 1935 in Tuscaloosa, AL. He grew up in Tuscaloosa attending Tuscaloosa Schools and graduating with the Tuscaloosa High School Class of 1953. While in school, he was avidly involved in Boy Scouts and achieved the prestigious highest rank attainable of Eagle Scout. He began his higher education at The University of Alabama majoring in Aeronautical Engineering and was a member of the Alpha Phi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. His education was paused when he joined the Army, and in the service he was stationed in Giessen, West Germany. After his discharge, he returned to Tuscaloosa and resumed his higher education at The University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration and frequently was a Dean’s List student. His professional career began as an Accountant at Smith and Smith CPA’s, in Nashville, TN, where he later also worked in the position of Manager of Accounting Services with Winner Boats, Inc. he returned to Tuscaloosa and joined Gulf States Paper Corporation as a Tax Administrator and remained with Gulf States until his retirement. While at Gulf States, he earned his Master of Business Administration from Samford University. During most of his life he was a member of the Alabama National Guard and competed on the rifle team. He was a great marksman, and earned national records in high power rifle shooting. Throughout his life he was an outdoor enthusiast with a devotion to all kinds of hunting and fishing. In his later years he developed an interest in family genealogy which in turn led to an active involvement in the Sons of Confederate Veteran’s where he held the position of 2nd Lieutenant Commander and Adjutant for the local division . Most important of all, he was a kind, goodhearted man who will be greatly missed by all of his family including his survivors daughters: Jane Delbridge Burch (Ricky) and Kirsten Delbridge Freeman (Jack) both of Tuscaloosa; grandchildren: Brian Richard Burch of Tuscaloosa, Bradley Alan Burch (Amanda) of Tuscaloosa, Ashley Burch Hamner (Daniel) of Akron, AL, Caitlyn Freeman Way (Alex) of Ardmore, TN, Allison Freeman Sinclair (Caiden) of Wilsonville, AL; great grandchildren: Emily, Sarah Taylor, Jacob, Jackson, Riley, Kathryn, Carter and two more who will arrive too late to meet him.

Ricky Burch, Jack Freeman, Brian Burch and Brad Burch will serve as Active Pallbearers, with Daniel Hamner, Alex Way and Caiden Sinclair serving as Honorary Pallbearers.