ROCHESTER — Frank C. Finnel, 92, formerly of Oak Street in Gonic, N.H., died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at the Colonial Hill Nursing Home.
Frank was born on a farm on Oct. 2, 1918, in Kauwakee, Wis. He was the son of the late Samuel and Mamie (Keehan) Finnel.
Frank graduated from Denmark High School and also from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Wis. He majored in mechanical engineering. He was employed by Westinghouse Electric Corp in Pittsburg, Pa., for 39 years. While working at Westinghouse he was stationed to two divisions, the jet engine facility in Philadelphia and the missile facility in California. From 1946 to 1950, he was a west coast representative, during such time he was a member of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Military Affairs Committee.
In 1950, he was assigned to the east coast area and in that same year made the Mediterranean cruise aboard the USS Coral Sea. In 1951, he made the South American cruise aboard the USS Oriskany including the voyage around Cape Horn and an assignment to the USS Kearsarge which included a tour of duty in the Sea of Japan during the Korean War and returned to NAS in Jacksonville, Fla.
In 1960, he was transferred to the Westinghouse missile division and assigned to the Electric Boat Co, of Groton, Conn., where he was employed for 12 years. In 1972, he transferred to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1982.
Frank has been a member of the Elks Lodges since 1962, having become a life member in 1992. He enjoyed his time working with the Youth of America which included sponsoring girl's softball teams for nine years. In 1983, he became the lead sponsor of the Eastside T-ball program which lead to having a baseball field named in his honor in 2010, for being a major contributor to the Eastside T-ball program at the Roger Allen Baseball field. He was also inducted into the Rochester hall of Fame.
Members of his family include his daughter, Robin Wilson of Tallahassee Fla.; his grandchildren, Harmony Church of Tallahassee, Fla., Kurtis Wilson of Sacramento, Calif., Bradley Wilson of Jacksonville Fla.; a great-grandchild, Cason Todd of Tallahassee, Fla., and a long time companion, Ellie Brown of Rochester.
He was predeceased by his wife, Betty (Sprowl) Finnel.
Calling hours will be held Monday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester N.H.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the St. Leo Church, Main Street in Gonic.
Burial will be in the Mont Calvaire Cemetery on Cemetery Road in Gonic following the Mass.
Flowers are accepted but donations can be made to Roger N. Allen Baseball, P.O. Box 6357, East Rochester, N.H. 03868-6357.
After your last game of the season your equipment and keys are to be turned in to the officer in charge that night AT THE Johnson Building similar to last year. The only difference is WE DO NOT JUST LEAVE IT THERE. Please wait for one of the officers to be there. One of the committee member can also take it in. Any questions/problems, etc. please call John at 332-5469.
Thank you,
Annual End of Year Meeting
ROGER N. ALLEN BASEBALL ANNUAL END OF YEAR MEETING
Roger N. Allen Baseball’s annual end of year meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Nov 5th at 11 A.M. at the Rochester Community Center in Conference Room 1. Parents, coaches, and league officials, etc. are welcome.
“Howie's Field of Dreams" is a Bambino Buddy Ball field to be built at Roger Allen Park in Rochester, NH, in memory of Howie Seckendorf where young players with physical and/or mental challenges can enjoy playing the game of baseball.
Two Buddy Ball games set for 2011
06/11/2011 Saturday 12:30 PM Front T-Ball East
07/23/2011 Saturday 10:30 AM Front T-Ball East
Upcoming Fundraiser 5K Road Race at Roger Allen Park Saturday July 23rd 9:00am-12:00pm.
Advance Registration is $15.00 for adults ($20.00 day of race) and $7.00 for children 12 and under.