We are saddened to announce that Frank Watson Caldwell, 85, of Bonita Springs, Fla., passed away Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021.
He was born Feb. 24, 1936, son of the late John Robert Caldwell and Mary Lee (Stone) Caldwell at the family home on Old Lake Road, west of Union City.
He attended local elementary schools at Woodland Mills and Union City and graduated from Union City High School, where he lettered in football, track and basketball. He continued his education at University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He married the former Betty Cude and had three daughters.
Frank served as director of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Montana, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. He retired in El Paso, Texas, after serving 35 years with the agency in assignments all across the United States — North to South and East to West. Each move was a cross-country adventure during the summer which instilled a love of road trips for all of his daughters.
Frank was active in civic affairs. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International, a Vince Ward Fellow in Rotary of Helena, Poplar Bluff and El Paso. He served on airport advisory commissions, Chamber of Commerce, Federal Senior Executive Association, Habitat for Humanity and homeowner association boards.
He regularly attended services at Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs.
Other special interests included renovating homes, flying, fly fishing, snow skiing, tennis and golf. He even gave scuba diving a try.
Frank is fondly remembered for his sense of humor, practical jokes, his annual St. Patrick’s Day parties (he made a mean corned beef and cabbage), writing adventure stories starring his grandchildren, smoothies, his Halloween costumes and style.
He loved his UCHS reunions and helped coordinate them; he loved walking his dog, Brodie, with the Hunters Ridge Small Dog Club; he loved his sojourns to the Baja with what he called his “Old Men” friends; and he loved sitting on his lanai having an evening whiskey with a cigar.
In addition to Betty Caldwell, Frank is survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Alton and Martha Scott (Caldwell) Helm of Bonita Springs and Dr. Gerald and JoAnne (Caldwell) Troutman of LaFollette; and his daughters, Carie Gluyas of Naples, Fla., Jane Caldwell of Grand Cayman and Laurie Krueger of Worcester, Mass. He is also survived by his grandchildren, for whom he gave nicknames, including Eleanor “Girlie” Krueger and James “Buster” Krueger, both of Worcester.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, John Walton Caldwell of Counce; a brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Joanne Caldwell, of Tampa; and a sister and brother-in-law, Mary and David Critchlow of Union City; and a son-in-law, Dave Gluyas of Naples.
He also leaves numerous loving nieces and nephews whom he entertained with much laughter.
He expressed desire for his ashes to be scattered in the Gulf of Mexico and at the family burial plot at East View Cemetery in Union City.
Published 8.17.21
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