Frank Harmon

HARMON, FRANK Joseph Frank Harmon, Jr., of Waco passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at a local hospital. He was 77 years young. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am Saturday, January 4 at St. Louis Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 6pm Friday, January 3 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Mr. Harmon was born December 16, 1925 in Dallas to Joseph Frank and Ina Mae Harmon. Frank graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and entered North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington, now known as UTA. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944 and served in Europe, where at the Battle of the Bulge he received injuries resulting in the award of a Purple Heart. After recuperating from extensive injuries, he was discharged from the Army and he then returned to Waco to attend Baylor University from 1947 through 1950. While at Baylor, Frank was elected to the positions of Cheerleader and bear handler. He moved to Houston to take a job with Braniff Airways. During his employment with Braniff, he sustained a back injury that sent him to St. Joseph Hospital where he met his future bride, his nurse, Carolyn Catherine Bartosh of Weimer, Texas. Carolyn preceded Frank in death in November 1997. He was a longtime member of Waco Masonic Lodge #92. In 1952, Frank and Carolyn and their first daughter, Kathi moved back to Waco where he entered the food industry business. He was known in the Baylor University community as owner and operator of numerous restaurants including Hickory Fare, Campus Chef, Frank’s Food Factory, Baylor Smokehouse and Frank’s Burger World until 1985. While serving up student favorites like Big Bear Specials, Quick Snacks, steak baskets, cinnamon rolls and kolaches, Frank, his wife, Carolyn, and their children enjoyed the friendship of many Baylor students over the years and assisted many of those students with part-time employment through their college years. Frank retired from the restaurant business in 1985 and began playing Santa Claus at the local mall each Christmas season. He was the current local chapter president of the Mended Hearts Association, and avid volunteer for the Providence Hospital Auxiliary and served as chairperson over the greeters in the Medical Plaza Building. He was a member of their executive board. He participated faithfully in the American Heart Association and was instrumental in the organization of the colorectal support group. He also participated in various other activities for cancer and heart organizations. In addition to these activities he found time to serve as a substitute teacher at Robinson High School. Frank was a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church. He is survived by his daughters, Kathi Harmon Hopkins and husband, Mark of Waco and Mary Harmon Boyd and husband, Robert of Lorena; son, Robert Rob Harmon of Waco; grandchildren, Paula Hopkins Odabasi, Jenni Hopkins, Laura Hopkins, Matthew Sissel, Luke Kilmartin, Michael Kilmartin, Ethan Boyd and Micah Boyd; and brother, Robert Lee Harmon of Colleyville; as well as a host of other family members and close friends. Pallbearers will be Duane Russell, E. Z. Rice, Win Frankel, Ed Sieja, Jim Todd, Chuck Solomon, Mel Drake, and Tom Henderson. Memorials may be made to Waco Chapter of the American Heart Association. Memorial guestbook at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY