Frank Crist of Lancaster Pa, 86, passed away Thursday, March 15 after a long illness. Born in Newport, Pa, Frank spent most of his life in Lancaster County, Pa.
Frank is survived by his three daughters, Robin Jean Miller, wife of Craig Miller of Wachapreague, VA; Virginia “Ginger” Dill, wife of Steven Dill of Phoenix, AZ; Laurie Jill Garrett and her fiancé, Stephen Brehm of Leola, Pa; 2 grandchildren, Nathan and Jared, 2 great-grandchildren, Ryan and Emily, 4 brothers and 3 sisters.
Frank retired in 1989 from an active career path which began as a pilot in the US Navy during WW2, a pitcher for the Navy Midshipmen and later the St. Louis Cardinals. Frank was the Production Manager at WGAL until 1966. Following a brief stint in Dayton, Ohio during the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church with the United Methodist Church, Frank spent four years in fundraising at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. Upon returning to Lancaster, Frank continued his love of oil painting, which began as a hobby in Easton. He began to paint professionally, displaying his work at various venues in Pennsylvania.
A graduate of Newport High School, Frank earned his BA at Dickinson College with a major in History and a minor in English and successfully wrote a play performed by his high school class.
Frank held many passions; the love of baseball “the crack of the bat” each spring, writing epistles as he referred to them, oil painting, and his greatest passion, studying the Bible. He was an avid reader and a Penn State and Dallas Cowboys fan. He loved to travel and spending time with his children and their families.
Even during the most difficult times of his illness, he held a smile for everyone.
Frank took his faith seriously, was involved for many years at St John’s United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher and a lay minister.
The Memorial Service will be Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 1PM at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 3001 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise Pa. Greeting time with refreshments will follow after the funeral and graveside service.
It was Frank’s request that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Heart Association, 610 Community Way, Lancaster, PA 17603. Bachman Funeral Home, Strasburg.
www.bachmanfuneral.com
My condolenseces to the family of Frank. I knew Frank many years ago when he had an art studio in Trexlertown. He was a kind and gentle man.
Our condolences to Frank’s family. I never met Frank but throught Jackie we commissioned Frank to do a painting of a family cabin in Fulton County. The cabin has been sold and my parents are in a retirement community but Frank’s painting is still hanging in a prominent place and continues to be enjoyed by family and friends. He was a gifted artist.