Frank W. Wakefield, 92, died Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005. He had been a resident of Sheridan Manor for three years. Committal was at Sheridan Municipal Cemetery following funeral services at First Presbyterian Church in Sheridan with Rev. Doug Melius officiating.

Frank was born Aug. 5, 1913, in Boston. The family moved to Sheridan in 1920. He attended Central School and was a 1933 graduate of Sheridan High School. He married Eleanor Odessa Mills on Sept. 1, 1935. They lived in Johnstown, Colorado, for a short time to help Mrs. Wakefield’s family on the farm. They moved to Sheridan in 1936.

Frank served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II until he was injured and returned via hospital ship, arriving in San Francisco on Dec. 26, 1944. He became manager of the canteen at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Mackenzie (now Sheridan VA Medical Center) in 1949 and, after retiring from the Veterans Canteen Service, he went to work for Ross Campbell, managing the WYO Theater and Skyline Drive-in in Sheridan and theaters in Buffalo.

Frank volunteered as a captain in the Civil Air Patrol, a van driver for the Sheridan VAMC, and also worked with patients as a volunteer at the VAMC. He was twice commander of the American Legion Post and served in leadership positions with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.

For many years he headed the “Apples for Teachers” outreach program to rural schools in Sheridan County. He joined the Boy Scouts of America at age 12 and as an adult was Cub Scout pack master and Scout Master of American Legion Troop 107 in Sheridan. In 1971 he was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest honor awarded by the Boy Scouts of America.

Frank was active in theater and music, participating in college and community choir concerts and as a 12-year member of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. He was an elder and member of the choir of First Presbyterian Church of Sheridan.

He was preceded in death by his wife and a son, Frank Eugene. Survivors include two sons, Robert (Cathy) of Sheridan, Larry (Gege) of Kalispell, Mont.; a daughter, Mary, of Hudson; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Sheridan.