Frank Alvin Hannah

Frank Alvin Hannah was born in Ontario, California January 3rd, 1924, died Friday, February 6th, 2015 at White County Hospital, Searcy, Arkansas. He was the youngest son of Frank Everett Hannah and Margaret Nelle Smith. He had an older brother, Lawrence Eugene Hannah, and a brother and sister who died as infants. Frank grew up in many places, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois. His father was a plasterer and jobs were hard to find during the depression and the family moved to where his father could find work. They were eventually able to fulfill his dream of returning to Missouri and buying a farm. Frank met his wife of 70 years, Virginia Marie Stine, in elementary school. He said she wore big bows in her hair, was the prettiest girl in the class, and had a Mickey Mouse watch which she let her friends wear. He said she let me wear it once or twice. He said it was always understood that one day they would get married. Frank (and several other boys in his class) was allowed to leave school before graduation so he could serve his country during World War II, by enlisting in the United States Navy. He and Virginia were married June 8, 1943 when Frank was on leave after completing basic training in Farragut, Idaho. After basic training he was stationed in California and then transferred to Miami, Florida where he served as a Gunners' Mate M First Class on a sub-marine chaser in the Caribbean. The ship's mission was to search for enemy submarines. After the war he continued to serve in the naval reserve. He attended school under the GI Bill and learned the dry cleaning business. He moved back to Ozark, Missouri and in 1945 opened Hannah's Cleaners with his brother, Lawrence, and his sister-in-law, Bonnie. He also owned and operated a school bus route. Frank and Virginia ran the dry cleaning business until they moved to Harrison, Arkansas in 1960 where they owned and operated a soft drink bottling company with his brother-in-law, Walter Jones, and sister-in-law, Mary Frances (Stine) Jones. After purchasing the Jones' interest in the business, they continued to operate the bottling company until selling it in the mid 1970's. Frank was "dad" to Jim and Pat (Johnson) Hannah, Searcy, Arkansas; and "daddy" to Sara Beth and Early Bowen, Cypress, Texas. He was a grandpa to Jayme Parr (Cabot), Craig Hannah and his wife Mitzi (Paul), Searcy, Todd Hannah and his wife Wendy (Johnston), Bentonville, and granddaddy to Danielle Bowen, Kilauea, Hawaii, and Marcus Bowen, Daegu, South Korea. Mark and Julie Pate and Kelli and Mike McNeill of Searcy are step- grandchildren. Great-grand children are Gabby, Adrian, Ethan, Jackson, and Gracen Hannah; Derrick Covington (Jessica), and Tyler and Mason Parr. He has one great-great grandson, Bryson Covington. Step great grandchildren are Jacob Corpier, Ian McNeill and Emily, Sam, and Will Pate. He has one brother (deceased), Lawrence Everett Hannah and a sister-in-law, Bonnie Hannah of Nixa, Missouri. two nieces, Linda Kay Rice, Springfield, Missouri and Margaret Moore, Nixa, Missouri, and a nephew, Paul Hannah, Nixa, Missouri. Frank was called many names: Jr. (his least favorite), dad, daddy, grandpa, granddaddy, Grandpa Frank, and Papa Frank. He was a quiet man, a man of few words, who loved his family. He had a dry, quick wit. He loved holiday and birthday get-togethers. He was a talented man but very humble. He could master anything he set his mind to and took pride in all that he did. He loved cars of all makes and models, reading the paper and magazines, especially Consumer Reports, watching sports, especially the Cardinals and Razorbacks, and feeding and watching birds. He was a handsome man who took pride in his appearance. He was a gentleman. He was very proud of his military service and always expressed appreciation to others who served their country. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He loved his family most of all; he was very proud of all of them and was always there for them. He was a Christian. The way he lived his life was an example for not just his family but for everyone. He was all these things and so much more. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Frank Alvin Hannah

January 3, 1924 - February 6, 2015