FRANK HENRY

Our beloved father, Frank Edward Henry, passed away in his home in San Angelo, Texas, on Wednesday, May 11, 2005. Funeral arrangements are being made by Robert Massie Funeral Home with the services at Holy Angels Parish in San Angelo, TX at 10 AM on Monday, May 16, 2005. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday evening the 15th of May at 7 PM. Internment will be at Calvary cemetery in San Angelo, TX. Dad was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 28, 1920. Dad is survived by his wife of 61 years, Bertha, and their four daughters-Franciene McDonald of Georgetown, TX, Jean Stewart of San Diego, CA, Christine Elkins of San Angelo, TX, Jill Henry of Kingsland, TX as well as granddaughter Erin Kersey of Georgetown and grandson David Simmons of San Angelo. Our dad, Frank, had a large extended family with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dad will be greatly missed by his sister, Rose, his many relatives, friends and business associates. Dad is the son of Sicilian immigrants, Mariano Iannarino and Providenza La Manna and was named Francisco Iannarino at birth. Dad's parents used the name Henry in their business dealings, so dad adopted the name Frank Henry. Frank volunteered for service in the United States military, as did all of his brothers, during the Second World War. Dad chose to enlist in the United States Navy at the beginning of World War II and served honorably for the duration of the war, working primarily with radio and radar equipment. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres, flying in and servicing equipment in PBY's, a sea plane used to detect Japanese and German submarines. When dad was discharged from the Navy, he started working with the KDKA television station in Pittsburgh as an electronics technician and cameraman. In order to further his career, dad moved his growing family to Baltimore, Maryland to work with Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he designed and installed power generating systems. While residing in Baltimore, dad attended Johns Hopkins University at night and worked full time at Westinghouse Electric during the day. Dad graduated "summa cum laude" with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins. During his time with Westinghouse, dad was often sent to corporate clients and facilities to troubleshoot or diagnose faulty equipment and systems. Because of dad's success at diagnosing problems, he became affectionately known as "the fireman." Dad became interested in the growing semiconductor industry after graduation from Johns Hopkins, so he applied for and obtained a position at Motorola Semiconductor in Phoenix, Arizona. While in Phoenix dad earned his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. Once again Frank graduated with honors. Dad wanted a Professional Engineering License, so he earned that as well. When Motorola Semiconductor moved part of their manufacturing facility to Austin, Texas, Frank and Bertha moved again. Dad worked as a facilities manager at the Motorola Ed Bluestein facility in Austin, designing and maintaining equipment and systems necessary to keep the manufacturing process and facility in good working order. He worked on de-ionizing systems for the manufacturing processes and upgraded water, air conditioning and other plant facilities. He was a good manager of those who worked for him and was well respected in the industry for his knowledge and ability. Frank retired from Motorola when he was 65 years old. After dad cleaned up his workshop, he started his own consulting firm where he worked with local industries in Austin designing power grids and completing other tasks associated with refurbishing and upgrading plant facilities. Dad retired from the business world at the age of 80 when he and his wife Bertha moved to San Angelo, Texas in 1999. But dad's mind never retired. Frank was an avid ham radio operator, having taken up the hobby as a teenager. He enjoyed his weekly chats with his ham radio contacts and treasured his ham radio license, displaying it proudly in his computer room along with his many degrees and awards. Dad loved working with his computer, scanning the internet for new and unusual ideas, playing with his newest software, sharing photos and email with friends and family and challenging himself with computer games. He had a keen interest in genealogy and spent hours on the internet searching for his and his wife's ancestors. Dad even took two trips to Italy with his wife, learning about his parent's birth nation and searching for relatives. His hopes were to return to Italy again. Our dad had so many accomplishments and abilities that it is impossible to mention them all. There wasn't any machine or piece of technical or mechanical equipment that Frank couldn't repair or improve. When the tools were not available to do the job dad wanted to do, he would create the tool. Dad loved exploring new technologies with his son-in-law Larry McDonald and his granddaughter Erin and her husband, James Kersey. He spent lazy afternoon with his son-in-law, Keith Elkins, discussing and solving world problems. Dad loved spending time with his grandson David and David's growing family. Dad was always ready for a stimulating conversation with his many relatives and friends and would drop whatever he was doing when someone came to visit. Yet with all his technical and educational achievements, what Frank was most proud of was his long and loving relationship with his wife, Bertha. Frank and Bertha met at a USO dance while he was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina during World War II, and together they created a wonderful love filled life. When asked to what he attributed his long and successful marriage, dad would reply that he had learned early in his marriage that "when I win an argument, in reality, I lose." The pallbearers are grandson David Simmons, son-in-law Keith Elkins, special family friend Larry Mausteller, son-in-law Larry McDonald, grandson-in-law James Kersey and great-nephew Frank Henry of Erie, Pennsylvania. Our dad had a long, wonderful and productive life; a life he was reluctant to leave. Our dad, Frank Edward Henry, was a man of great integrity and boundless energy. His great courage facing his injury and illness and his devotion to his wife and family have inspired all who knew and loved him. Dad gave all that he was, in full measure, to his family, his community, his church and his country. He was not only one of "the greatest generation," but very possibly, the very best of them all.