Thornton Frank Jr.

1933 - 2020

Thornton (Bud) F. T. Frank Jr., age 87, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2020 in Ocean Pines, MD.  He was born March 26, 1933 in Stevenson, MD as the only child to Thornton (Fred) F. T. Frank Sr. and Mamie (Parks) Frank.  Bud graduated from the University of Maryland with an Engineering degree and soon after married Beatrice Batchelder Lemos (predeceased) on November 27, 1955. In 1955, Bud was drafted into the US Army where he spent two years stationed in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. As a talented musician, he joined the Army Band playing piano, trumpet, and singing. During his time in Germany, his son Thornton (Thorn) F.T.Frank III (predeceased) and daughter Denise Marianne were born.   Bud returned to the US in 1958 and remained in the Army Reserves until 1962.  His third child, Jennifer Louise, was born in 1959, the same year he joined General Motors and worked for 33 years. During his time at GM, he was an accomplished Quality Control Engineer, eventually moving to GM Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.  Bud became the Automotive Chairman for the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC), during which he earned the McDermond Award and the prestigious Koth Award for his outstanding service as Chairman during 1989-1990.  He loved to travel with his wife Beatrice, seeing much of the world and all but one of the 50 states.  In addition to travel, Bud loved to golf, garden, fish, and crab with his grandchildren in Maryland.  He will forever be known as the “Music Man”, never losing his touch on the keyboard despite having Dementia for several years.

He is survived by his loving daughters Denise Marianne Bondy of Milford, MI and Jennifer Louise Burns and her husband Rick of Rochester Hills, MI, as well as four grandchildren; Sarah Burns Mobilio (Mark), Christopher Burns (Molly), Spencer Bondy (Sarah), Tyler Bondy (Rachel), and one adorable great grandchild; Jacob Mobilio.

A Memorial Service will be planned at a later date. Our deepest gratitude goes to the Caregivers at Catered Living in Ocean Pines, MD. Donations to honor Bud can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.