Born October 14, 1924 in Clearfield, he was the son of Orin C. and Laura (Bailey) Frank.
Mr. Frank graduated from Clearfield High School in 1942. During World War II from 1942 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Pacific Theater.
He was a 1949 graduate of Penn State University and received a degree in Forestry under the GI Bill. He operated a forest tree seedling and ornamental evergreen nursery and Christmas tree farm.
Mr. Frank wed the former Barbara Jean Newton on August 29, 1953 who survives with two sons; Gary L Frank and his wife, Marguerite of Brookville and Randal S. Frank of Littleton, CO., and five grandsons; Matthew, Andrew, Trevor, Luke and John.
He was the last member of his generation having been preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mona Lou Fenwick and a daughter-in-law, Jenifer A. Frank.
Mr. Frank was employed by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and was assigned to the Moshannon State Forest District with headquarters in Clearfield.
He became an Assistant District Forester and was responsible for the District’s Timber Management and Timber Sale Program for a period of 16 years.
In 1971 he was transferred to the Central Office in Harrisburg with the Division of State Forest Management for 14 years. He was responsible for the timber harvesting on State Forest Lands under the Forest Resource Plan and also issuance of Timber Sale Contracts for the State’s twenty Forest Districts until his retirement in 1984.
He was active in the Boy Scout program and served as a Scout Master, Troop Committeeman and was Chairman of the Trails and Awards Committee for the Bucktail Council. He authored a book for Scouting about canoeing, titled “80 Miles of Wilderness Adventure.”
Mr. Frank had an interest about the early history of how the river systems in the State were used to transport timber products from the wilderness to down river markets. He authored several books on the subject. He also had the opportunity to supervise a voluntary crew in the construction of the 26 foot wide, 116 foot long, 80 ton 1976 Clinton County Bicentennial Raft in Clearfield County. He also served as pilot of the raft with crew for the 63 mile down river journey on the West Branch from Millers Landing to the former rafting market at Lock Haven for the Clinton County Bicentennial celebration on July 4, 1976.
He was a lifetime member of the Trinity United Methodist Church of Clearfield and served on the Board of Trustees and Pastoral Committees. He was a member of the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post 6, Clearfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1785, Clearfield Lodge No. 314 F & AM, Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Forest Fire Wardens Organization, Clearfield Rotary, Clearfield County Historical Society, International Wood Collectors Society, and Society of West Branch Susquehanna River Conservation Plan Committee. He also served as senior advisor for the 2004 video of the 1938 Last Raft and the 2004 Clearfield County Bicentennial Raft.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield with Rev. Penny Rahm officiating. Interment will be in Crown Crest Memorial Park. Military Honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the Clearfield Honor Guard.
Friends will be received at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc., Clearfield on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM and at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the hour of services.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, 121 South Second St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
To send online tributes go to www.bennetttandhouser.com or www.mem.com
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