W. Frank Painter, 98

November 13, 2013

W. Frank Painter, 98, formerly of Lancaster died Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at Landis Homes Retirement Community. He was born and raised in Columbia, SC to the late Thomas M. and Jennie Davis Painter. Frank’s wife of 53 years, Esma P. Gould Painter, died in 1999.

He graduated from Columbia High School in South Carolina and then served in the US Army with the 151st Engineers in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. Frank had been a shoe salesman at Hager’s Department Store and then sold furniture for Oblender’s Furniture for 20 years and J. B. Sciver Furniture Company.

Frank was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, where he was a Eucharistic Minister and active in the senior citizens group. A pro-life advocate he wrote numerous letters to the editor of Lancaster Newspapers. He was a charter and life member of Sertoma Club of Lancaster, and a former member of Knights of Columbus, Lancaster Council #867 as a 3rd Degree Knight. Frank loved golf, bridge, dancing and Guys & Dolls activities at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church.

Surviving family include five children, William F. Painter, Jr., husband of Mary F. of Boca Raton, FL, Thomas G. Painter, husband of Kathy of Mechanicsburg, Joan E., wife of John B. Stipe, Jr., of Lancaster, Betty A., wife of Philip Buck of Catonsville, MD, and Mary Jean, wife of Mark Anderson of Sykesville, MD; son-in-law Michael McCool of Reading, 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, with three on the way. In addition to his wife Esma, Frank was preceded in death by his daughter Phyllis M. McCool in 2013, and his siblings Margaret Phillips and Murray Painter.

The Funeral Mass will take place 10:30 AM Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, with Rev. Michael E. Messner as Celebrant. A Visitation will be held 9:30 to 10:30 AM on Tuesday at the church. Interment in St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 558 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, PA 17603 or “A Woman’s Concern”, A Pregnancy Resource Medical Center, 616 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602.