September 11, 1927 ~ June 1, 2022 (age 94)
Walter “Wayne” Frank, 94, of Stephenville, Texas, died Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Stephenville Funeral Home, with Mike Fritscher, officiating. Burial to follow at Indian Creek Cemetery, in Erath County. Visitation will begin at 1:00 (one hour prior to services).
Wayne was born on September 11, 1927, in DeLeon, Texas, to the late W. R. (Scrap) and Afton Holder Frank. At the age of two months the family moved to the Winters farm several miles south of Stephenville. They lived and worked farming the place and raising turkeys and cattle.
While living there, Wayne began school in a one room schoolhouse, Indian Creek School, several miles across pastures and small creeks. He attended there six years. Later Wayne attended Alexander school for two years in Jr. High. The family left the Winters farm after fourteen years, and moved to a farm near Stephenville on Hwy. 67. While living there he attended Stephenville High School, and graduated in the class of 1944. Later on that year he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. He served for two years and was assigned duty on the USSN Douglas H. Fox destroyer as a gunner’s mate. When he received his honorable discharge, he returned to Stephenville, and farmed for a year. He then moved to Fort Worth, and eventually went to work at General Motors parts department, and then later moved to Dallas.
In 1949 Wayne was married to Jean Parker of Stephenville. From this union there was a son, Michael Wayne Frank. They resided in Fort Worth Texas until the end of the marriage. In 1951 he married Charlene Wells of Stephenville. They resided in Fort Worth, and during that time a son was born Nicky Lynn Frank. In 1953 General Motors parts department moved to Dallas, and he and his family made their home in the Grapevine area, later to become Southlake. Susan Kay and Kurt Kendall were both born in Southlake. Most of their years in Southlake were spent on a small farm, and the children all attended Carroll Elementary school, Junior High, and graduated from Carroll High School where Wayne served on the school board for six years.
Wayne and his family attended the same church for 56 years. First it was a mission from Pleasant Run Baptist Church in Colleyville, later to become Carroll Road Baptist Church of Southlake. Wayne served as deacon several years.
After working for General Motors Parts Division for 36 years, Wayne retired and after Charlene’s retirement, they moved back to Stephenville, and bought a small farm on Hwy 281 south where he continued to garden, care for cattle on the family farm.
Wayne and his family attended Cottonwood Baptist Church in Dublin, Texas and he served several years as an elder.
Wayne was a man of his word, hard work, was his delight, and lived life to the fullest. His faith in the Lord never wavered. He never met a stranger. Every friend he had, became one for life. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.
Wayne was preceded in death by a brother, L. D. Frank, parents, W. R. (Scrap) and Afton Frank; grandson, Weston Wayne Hays; and a son, Michael Wayne Frank.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Charlene; son Nick L. and wife Kathy Frank of Stephenville, a daughter, Susan Hays of Bedford; son, Kurt Frank of Stephenville; five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.
The Frank family wishes expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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