NORWICH – Frank L. Wessels, 73, of Norwich, passed away Saturday evening, Dec. 13, 2008 at his home.
The son of Laurence and Mary (Carr) Wessels, Frank was born in December of 1934 in Oxford. He grew up in Guilford, graduating high school with their class of 1952 and working for his mother, who owned and operated the Red and White store in Guilford. In his early working years, he was employed for short times by Bendix of Sidney and the National Bank and Trust Company, prior to beginning his 30-plus years with the Norwich Pharmacal Company and its successors. Frank worked in the research and development area as a research scientist, retiring from Procter & Gamble in 1989 as a project manager. During his time with P&G, he undertook studies with the Empire State College which combined science, mathematics and technology, and graduated with a BS Degree in August of 1979.
Frank was a dedicated family man. He devoted many hours to family genealogy, researching his family’s roots back to the 1600s. He was a former member of the Norwich Elks Lodge BPOE 1222, served in the NYS National Guard and was an assessor for the Town of North Norwich from 1972-1976. He was also active with the Chenango County Republican Committee; he served as committee person for the Town of North Norwich and City of Norwich Ward 5 and was chairman of the Norwich City Committee for several years. He remained active with the P&G Quarter Century Club and volunteered at the Norwich Eaton museum.
Frank is survived by his wife of 48 years, Myrna Wessels of Norwich; his children and their spouses: Vicki and Jon Zernes of New Kent, Va., Joni and Steve Boland of Troy, Thomas and Mariam Wessels of Littleton, Colo., and Brian Wessels of Norwich; and his grandchildren: Kimberly and Gregory Boland, Anna and Madeline Wessels, and Grant, Seth and Trent Wessels. Also surviving are his sisters and their husbands: Helen and Dick Dickson, and Mary Lou and John Bickos, all of Sidney; his brothers and their wives: Robert and Elsie Wessels of Sparr, Fla., and Raymond and Mary Ann Wessels of Guilford; his sister-in-law, Lorna Snow of New Berlin, and nieces, nephews and cousins. Frank was predeceased by his brother, Richard Wessels.
A memorial service for Frank will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford of Norwich will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 p.m. until the service at 4.
Please consider memorial contributions to either Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815; or to the City of Norwich Fire Dept., 31 East Main St., Norwich, NY 13815.