William "Bill" Loy Frank, 92, of Mt. Olive, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, at his residence.
A Funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Oct. 9, at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Mt. Olive with Father Thomas Hagstrom officiating. Burial took place at Holy Trinity Cemetery. Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive assisted the family.
Mr. Frank was born on Jan. 3, 1926, in Elsah Township, to Edwin and Nellie (Loy) Frank. He married Agnes Angeline Verespey on Aug. 7, 1948, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mt. Olive, and she preceded him in death.
He attended White Oak Elementary School in Godfrey and after high school he went to Ranken Technical School.
A member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Mt. Olive, he served as a trustee. He was also a member of the Litchfield Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Frank was a mechanic for Neuman Chevrolet and he later became the owner of Bill's Phillips 66 service station, both in Mt. Olive.
He was a member of the United States Navy, serving on the LST 640 during World War II in the Pacific Theater from 1944 to 1946. He attained the rank of Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class.
He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon (two bronze stars), American Area Ribbon, Phillipine Liberation Ribbon (two bronze stars) and the Victory Medal. He remained very active in the LST 640 reunions.
A member of the Mt. Olive VFW Post #5790 , he was a member of the Yurkavich-Beck American Legion Post #594, as well as Centennial Brothers of the Brush and Chapter 6.
He enjoyed hunting, bowling, woodworking, restoring old tractors, playing horseshoes, pinochle and making mulligan. He was an avid Cardinals fan and was a grandfather to Hank Old Boy and the late Ginger, the cat.
He is survived by two daughters, Marcia (Mike) Walter of Girard and Donna Frank of St. Louis, MO; one son, Bill (Susan) Frank of Brighton, MI; three granddaughters, Mary McMillian of Danville, Michael (Lisa) Walter of Athens and Sarah Frank (Taylor) of Raleigh, NC; five great-grandchildren, Marissa, Dustin, Devin, Olivia and Kelton; numerous nieces and nephews; two brothers, Louis (Mary) Frank and George Arthur Frank; three sisters, Jesse Goeway, Mary Kuehnel and Nellie Barrett.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Clinton Frank, Joseph Frank; two sisters, Annie Cope and Wilma Rogers; sister-in-law, Minnie Frank; brothers-in-law, Steve Goeway, Eugene Kuehnel and Fred Barrett.
Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left at www.beckerandson.com.
