Donald Dow Frankel

Frankel, Donald Dow
Capt., USNR, Ret.
El Cajon/San Diego, CA: July 26, 2007. Predeceased by his parents, Abraham Irving and Amoret (Margaret) Brown Frankel and his sister, Amorette Frankel Cooper Jaffe of New York City. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Betsey; sons, William and Robert (Mary); daughter, Susan Frankel (Tracy) Sharpe; four grandchildren, Chelsea and Katelyn Sharpe, Justin and Jillian Frankel; brother, Volney (Dorothy) Frankel.
Don was born in Rochester on December 3, 1929. After graduating from Bucknell University with a degree in Philosophy, he immediately joined the Navy and spent his active duty on the USS Mount McKinley. He served in the Naval Reserves for 33 years, retiring as a Navy Captain. The Navy brought Don to San Diego in 1952 where he met his future bride at the MCRD Officer's club and after a whirlwind engagement, the two married in romantic Hawaii. They raised their family in El Cajon, CA.
He had a multitude of civic and governmental interests including the Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout Rank, member of Tay House Troop 19, Rochester, NY), Kiwanis of El Cajon Valley, Navy League of the U.S., Military Officers of America, Reserve Officers Association, Sons of the American Revolution and the Grand Jury Association.
Don was a beloved husband and a proud, loving father and grandfather whose love and nurturing of his family, his enthusiastic enjoyment of music, and his instrumental birthday renditions to family and friends will be missed.
His interment ceremony included full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego on August 20, 2007. Donations in his memory may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, 1207 Upas St., San Diego, CA 92103 or to the Kiwanis of El Cajon Valley, PO Box 1136, El Cajon, CA 92022. An online guest book is available at obituaries.uniontrib.com.