Good Bye, Frank

A friend of mine died today. It wasn’t the usual girl friend, or contemporary friend. No, Frank was very special. He was like a Grandfather to me. He was 96. He was born of December 7th “Pearl Harbor Day” and died “September 11”. I wonder if he knew.

I first met Frank when we started to build our home 15 years ago. I learned quickly that Frank liked to watch everything going on, and he loved to listen. He was actually a man of few words.

Frank was part of the “Greatest Generation”. He fought in World War 2 and was in a German Prison for about a year. IT did not make him bitter. He was, who he was. A simple, proud man.

His much loved wife had passed long before we arrived here, so I never met her, but his eyes got all misty when he spoke of her.

I brought him cookies and cakes, and jellies and jams. Things I knew he didn’t have. He was always so happy and would shakily hug me.

He heard I was putting in a garden and he brought me seeds for purple beans. I have had them in my garden ever since. I always brought him some too, as he never seemed able to grow anything in his very shady yard.

The last time I saw him he was in a chair in his room at the nursing home. He had a blanket across his lap and his big screen TV next to him. It was on, while he slept.

I did wake him, just so he would know I was there, and then he drifted back off to sleep. It broke my heart.

I’m thankful for knowing this brave and unique man. God speed Frankie “Digger” Dunn. I will cherish your memory all the days of my life.

Frank B. “Digger” Dunn, 96, of Meredith, passed away at Forest View Manor in Meredith, NH on September 11, 2014.

Frank was born December 7, 1917 in Sanbomton, N.H. to Leon Dunn and Marie Maple Dunn. He has been a resident of Meredith since the age of 4.

Frank worked for Frank Prescott at Prescott Lumber for many years. After World War II, he had a small trucking company which hauled lumber for Diamond Match Company among others. He started the first backhoe business in Meredith in 1959. He did all the digging for the town at the time. He enjoyed his work and made many friends. Everyone knew “Digger”. He retired in the late 1980s.

Frank served in the Army in WWII From 1941-1945. He was a PFC in the 20th Combat Engineers and was in several invasions in the European theatre. He was captured by the Germans and was a Prisoner of War for about a year.

He married Patricia Pettengill on March 8, 1952 and she predeceased him on June 19, 1996. He was also predeceased by brothers Arthur and Lewis.

Frank is survived by his daughter, Patrice and her husband Harold; granddaughter, Jennifer and her husband, Matt, great granddaughter, Isabelle; great-grandson, Brayden, a niece and several nephews.