Kenneth A. Frank

1931 - 2008

Published in the Star-Telegram on 4/9/2008.

Kenneth A. Frank passed away Sunday, April 6, 2008.

Funeral: 11:30 a.m. Friday at Bellevue Baptist Church, 625 W. Pipeline Road, Hurst. Burial: Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.

He was preceded in death by his father, Milton Frank, and his mother, Grace Frank Clark.

He was a retired FAA air traffic controller with 20 years of service at the St. Louis, Mo., center 1956-1963 and the Fort Worth ATC from 1963-1976.

He was born Dec. 8, 1931, in Sulphur Springs, Mo., to Milton and Grace Frank. He graduated from Crystal City High School in Missouri in 1949 and attended Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

He played baseball with the St. Louis Browns and later signed with the New York Giants baseball team. He went into the Air Force before having an opportunity to play. Kenneth began his military service in 1952 at the air traffic control school in Biloxi, Miss. While there, he married his high school sweetheart, Verna Lee Grah, on May 31 1952.

Serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, for 18 months. After being discharged from the military he moved his family to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked with the FAA. He was transferred to Texas in 1963, where he resided in Bedford. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4695 in Hurst and a charter member of the Order of the Elks Mid-Cities Lodge No. 2483. He played a significant role in organizing American Legion baseball in the Mid-Cities area.

He was the owner of The Flame Steakhouse in Euless.

He was a member of Diamond Oaks Country Club for over 30 years and was an avid golfer. He traveled to the Masters and British Open golf tournaments many times. He enjoyed baseball, football, and trips to the family lake house. Kenneth was a giving person who through his numerous acts of kindness touched many lives.

Survivors: His loving wife of 55 years, Verna Frank; his son, Steve Frank; daughter-in-law, Doris; grandchildren, Stephanie and Ryan; son, Tom Frank; daughter-in-law, Diane; grandchildren, Courtney, Shelby, Ashley and Jason; and numerous family members and friends.