Franklin D. Massengill, Retired US Navy

Franklin Massengill, age 81 of Marietta passed away on Monday, December 2, 2013. Formerly of Bluffton, SC. Frank and his wife recently relocated to the area to be closer to family. He was born November 20, 1932 in Durham, N.C. Frank served 23 years in the United States Navy and retired in 1974 as a Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. He spent more than half his military career in support of Marine Corp units including the Second Marine Division reinforcing Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban missile crisis and the First Marine Division during numerous operations in the Republic of Vietnam. His Naval assignments include two years on the battle ship USS Iowa, a tour of duty at the Naval Aerospace Institute and various other assignments. His most important military mission may have been meeting and marrying the former Mary Antonuccio, his wife of 56 years, at the Navy Finance Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Frank and Mary raised their family through the formative years in Roswell, Georgia where they attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Frank loved all sports and was active coaching at the youth level. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus; a benevolent fraternal organization that promoted patriotism, and Catholic citizenship. He enjoyed fund raising for various charities; including Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home in Atlanta. Frank's second retirement came after his service to the State of Georgia as a Regional Director in the Georgia Department of Human Resources. The final chapter of his working career was starting a business representing manufacturers in the furniture and bedding industry and finally opening up a retail operation. Frank officially retired and moved with his wife to Bluffton, South Carolina to spend his time pursuing his love of golf and other outdoor activities. His greatest passion was spending time with his children and grand children. Frank Massengill was preceded in death by his parents, Nancy Elizabeth and William Bennett Massengill; his brothers; William Bennett Massengill, Jr., Rudolph Massengill, Lundy Massengill, Lindale Massengill, James Massengill, and Billy Massengill. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Francis Massengill; sons, Nick Massengill and his wife Angela of Marietta, Georgia; and Frank Massengill and his wife Debbie of Duluth, Georgia; and grandchildren, Mary Eliza Massengill, William Massengill, John Massengill, and Mary Katherine Massengill. Frank is also survived by Sister and brother -in- law , Phyllis and Bill Wynne of Durham, North Carolina; and Sister Edna Sorrell of Leonardtown, Virginia. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 6, 2013 at St. Josephs’ Catholic Church in Marietta, Georgia at 10:00 AM. The family will receive friends at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta on Thursday evening December 5, 2013 from 5 to 7 p.m. , followed by a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Interment will be 12:00 noon Friday in the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Franklin D. Massengill to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Wellstar Hospice at Kennesaw Mountain Angel Fund, 475 Dickson Ave., NW, Marietta, GA 30064. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Franklin D. Massengill, Retired US Navy

November 20, 1932 - December 2, 2013