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FRANK MEAD Obituary
Frank Waldreth Mead, 90, of Gainesville, passed away on October 12, 2012 at E.T. York Hospice Care Center.
Frank was born in Columbus, Ohio on June 11, 1922 to Arlington and Edith Mead. He served in WWII in the U.S. Army. He worked as an Entomologist for the State of Florida Dept. of Agriculture from 1953 to his retirement in 1994. He attained a BS and MS from Ohio State and a PhD from NC State.
Frank loved photography, as did his father and grandfather, Frank Harrison, ranging from WWII, the State Plant Board/DPI and his favorite, P.K. Yonge. Frank was also very active in The Audubon Society, Wheaton Club, Alachua County Historical Society and The Florida Entomological Society. Frank also loved athletics, lettering in track at O.S.U., years of playing handball, jogging in marathons and donating blood often. Frank was an avid Gator and Buckeye Fan, loved to travel around the world, listened and an expert in big band swing music, and enjoyed life to the fullest. And, as people know, he was a walking encyclopedia and was in Who's Who in Science and Engineering in both the South and Southwest.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen.
He is survived by his sons, Gregory S. (Janice Marie) Mead and David H.(Mari Dawn) Mead and four grandchildren, Scott Arlington Mead, Stephanie April Mead, Ashley Danielle Mead, and Hunter Nicole Mead.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 17 at 2:00 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Dan Johnson officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow with military honors at Forest Meadows Memorial Park Central, 4100 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, 32606.
Arrangements are under the care of Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Cemeteries and Crematory. (352) 378-2528 Please sign his guestbook at www.forestmeadowsfh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for FRANK MEAD
Mitch McCallum
October 19, 2012
Greg and David,
Sorry for your loss hang in there.
Linda Piper
October 18, 2012
Our family will miss Mr. Mead tremendously. He was an important person in our life and in our daughter's lives. I am very blessed to have known him. He always attended my art festival and medieval faire and he was very proud of the work I did. He spent Thanksgiving Day the last few years with our family. He loved listening to Rachel play the piano and watch the marching band at PKY football games. Most of all he loved Nicole unconditionally and the class of 2003. Thank you Mr. Mead for being a part of our family, we will you.
Mary Koski
October 17, 2012
Greg & David,
I am sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad. My prayers go out to you two and your families. Your Dad was a great man. I grew up with him (and you two, till you moved) as my next door neighbor then when I went to PKY....there he was, taking pictures of everyone...every club, every sporting event. He is an inspiration to us all. I hope you cherish the memories of him as I have.
Victor Jackson
October 17, 2012
May the peace of Lord be always with Mr. Mead an his family.
Judy Acosta
October 17, 2012
[Jesus said,]"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will fine rest for your souls."
MATTHEW 11:28-29
With Deepest Sympathy
"We are certainly Sadden by the passing of Dr.Frank Mead one who P.K.Yonge School families remembers with great admiration".
Brenda Acosta
and
Judy Acosta
Electra (Nicol) Posada (Hise)
October 17, 2012
What a sad loss for all of us from PKY. This man gave SO much of his time to document our activities and events for many, many years. Thanks to Mr Mead we have wonderful pictures in our minds and in our year books of our friends, fun times and accomplishments. When my boyfriend died a year after he graduated, Mr. Mead let me come over and look for pictures and he gave me the ones I liked. He will be very grately missed. Thank you Mr. Mead. RIP
Poinsettia J. Greene
October 17, 2012
To Dr. Frank W. Mead Family
What a blessing Dr. Mead was to the P.K. Yonge family for many years. We are so very happy to have known and shared so many great moments and photos with him.
The eternal GOD is your
**refuge,
and underneath are the
**everlasting arms.
DEUTERONOMY 33:27
*Rest in Peace Dr.Mead we will always love and cherish your memories and the wonderful photos...!!!
Former P.K.Yonge Student:
Orien R. Greene II
Former P.K.Yonge Parent:
Poinsettia J. Greene
Tammie Echeverria PKY '84
October 17, 2012
I will miss Dr Mead and all his cameras. He had a way of getting pictures no one else could & he was always willing to share them with us even years later searching for photos for reunions, he was happy to help. His house was an archive of PKY history. But his smile will be missed the most. With Love....
October 16, 2012
Dr. Mead had so many gifts and touched every P.K. students life in one way or another. We will all forever treasure our memories with him. He was always smiling, taking pictures (with a camera in every pocket:0) and living life to the fullest. I am so thankful to have been able to get to know him over the years. We will all miss his sweet, patient, kind, loving and generous spirit. We are thinking about and praying for the Mead families during this difficult time.
Michelle (McElroy) Emerick c/o '97
Steve Anderson
October 16, 2012
My God bless you and your family with the happiness that you captured, and brought to PK Yonge, through your photography.
Clara Conaway
October 16, 2012
Greg and David,
My prayers are with your family. Your dad is the greatest. I have really enjoyed getting to know him. His wisdow, charisma, free spirit and love for humanity is beyond what words can even explain. He will be forever missed at The Village. His mission on earth is complete but GOD has a new mission for him. JOB WELL DONE on EARTH Dr. Mead!!!!
Johnny Walker Studio Red Hair Salon
October 16, 2012
Dr. Mead, As a lifer at P.K Yonge, Thanks for all the years and Photos. You will always be in the hearts and minds of us students. I can still see you now saying..."hold it...hold it right there"..Rest in Peace Dr, Mead.
To the family, may God give you comfort in your time of pain.
Johnny & John Walker (Twins) C/O '97
Nicole Piper
October 16, 2012
Dr. Mead may be gone but will never, ever be forgotten... as he has touched the lives of so many. His genuine soul and youthful heart will forever be ingrained in our memories. Franky lived a full life and in doing such should be an example to us all.
October 16, 2012
Dr. Mead was a great man and will be missed. He will always live in my memory on the sidelines of P.K. Yonge taking thousands of pictures.
Kraig Peebles
Leslie Sharpe Chestnut and Tami O'Neal McKinnon
October 16, 2012
My family is deeply saddened to hear of Dr. Mead's passing. He had a twinkle in his eye that would rival Santa Claus and a smile that would melt even the most hardened heart. Dr. Mead's million sports action photos of me served as PROOF to my colleagues that I was a "Hall of Famer! I am so glad that I was able to see him at the Jan 2011 P.K. Yonge Hall of Fame Sports Banquet in which I had another opportunity to thank him, tell him how much I loved him, and took a photo with him - which I will always cherish. Dr. Mead just simply... ROCKED! Coach Greg, please know that my family's prayers are with you and yours during this most difficult time. May the Peace of the Lord be always with you.
Constance Reed
October 16, 2012
Dear Greg and David,
We are so sorry for your loss. Your father was a wonderful gentleman and it was always a pleasure to be in his company. I enjoyed sharing my love of music and old movies with him, while Jose could spend hours asking him questions and listening to his stories about WW II. Even though this will be the last of his guest books we will sign, we'll know that every time lightening flashes it's just Frank taking pictures from above.
Jose and Ella Melgarejo and Connie Reed
Roderic Jackson
October 15, 2012
You will always live in our hearts and prayers.
October 15, 2012
Roderic Jackson and his family from PKY will surely miss Mr. Mead. We have so many memories of Mr. Mead that we will forever remember. May God continue to bless his family.
Nicole and Franky at his 90th Birthday Party June 2012
Patrick Piper
October 15, 2012
Our family will always remember Franky for his youthful spirit, kindness and generosity. A truly unique and decent man, I am especially thankful for his valuable lesson to my daughters of teaching them that someone from another generation can be a valuable friend and mentor. As always, keep your camera close at hand, Franky, and Rest In Peace old friend.
sally martin
October 15, 2012
Dr. Mead was such a smart, kind and patient man. His pictures captured so many wonderful P.K. Yonge memories. His pictures are all over my house and he was always there for my sons who thought he was such a kind and funny man. I don't remember one important event where he was not taking pictures and enjoying himself. I would run in to him from time to time and he would tell me of his latest traveling adventure or how his Ohio Buckeyes were doing in the latest polls. He will be missed by so many friends. Thank-you for the memories Dr. Mead. I hope you can take the perfect picture in Heaven.
Belinda Byars-Taylor
October 15, 2012
Mr. Mead was a wonderful, caring man always present at football & basketball games & banquets. I purchased 100's of photos of my son & his friends over the years that otherwise would have gone undocumented. Thank you and God bless you and your family. Those memories will last forever. We will never forget your kindness.
Heather Williams
October 15, 2012
You were one of a kind, we will never forget you.
PK class of 1990
Viva (Benton) Brown
October 15, 2012
Mr. Mead, Thank you for all the memories you preserved through your photography. It may have been a hobby for you, but it was so much more to all of us PK Yongesters you captured in photos. Rest in peace and may God bless your family as they remember you and celebrate your life. PKY '79
Judy Sheldon
October 15, 2012
What a kind and generous man. Always willing to give of his time for the P.K. Family. I am honored to have known you and still love the photos you took of my daughter, Stacey Blankenship, during her years of springboard diving. Your great sense of humor and love of kids was incrediable. The community has lost a
special man. Prayers for your family.
Alana Lawson
October 15, 2012
Dr. Meade will greatly be missed. His name exudes so many memories and the PKY experience as a whole. My thoughts and prayers are with his family
October 15, 2012
"I am sure Dr. Mead's footprints are high enough on the beach of time, they will not be washed away! Sorry for your lost!"
Tom Wilson
Debra Lamar-Randolph
October 15, 2012
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Lauren (Bishop) Bissonnette
October 15, 2012
You were such a dear, sweet man. I will always remember your kindness and selflessness as you gave hours upon hours of your time to capture the memories of the P.K. family. Of course, you were so much more than that. Thank you for touching so many lives with your positive spirit.
October 14, 2012
PKY greatest photo historian will truly be missed. My condolence to the Mead Family.
Coach Mead, thanks for sharing your father with us for so many years.
Randall Leath - State College PA
Class of 81
Kristin Minix (Floyd)
October 14, 2012
Dr. Mead will always be remembered as a kind, caring, genuine man with a camera. He took some of my best shots on the softball field. He will be missed by many of the P.K. Family. To the family my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
October 14, 2012
Mr. Mead was a friend of my parents, Frank & Helen Harben. Mother worked with him at the Division of Plant Industry. Mr. Mead took an excellent family portrait when we celebrated my parents' 50th anniversary in 1985. We, my brother, sister, and I each have one of those pictures which we treasure. I know you will miss him. May God bless you. Linda Harben Avery
John Webb
October 14, 2012
Greg, I remember all those early years in sports together when your Dad was always there. Also when your Dad would take you and David over to Metcalf playing pick up basketball and allow some of us to join. Many great memories. My thoughts and prayers are with you, David and your families.
God Bless,
Wilson Gillett
October 14, 2012
Our thoughts are with David, Greg and the entire family. It was an honor to know Frank and witness his amazing energy and interests.
Sean Doyle
October 14, 2012
I will always remember Dr. Mead as the man with the big glasses, a big camera around his neck and an always present big smile. His kind demeanor touched many. We are all grateful to have had someone like Dr. Mead to preserve so much Blue Wave history.
Paula Sanders Pringle
October 14, 2012
PKY never would have been the same without you and neither would my years there! Prayers and peace to your family
October 14, 2012
What wonderful memeories we all have you Mr. Mead! Rest iN Peace!
Stacey Green (Blankenship)
October 14, 2012
P.K wouldn't have been the same without you. All of my diving memories are accompanied by your presence. Thank you for many years of smiles. Much love and admiration.
Craig nobles
October 14, 2012
Was a big part of the P.K.Y. Family R.I.P. My friend.
Christi Mach
October 14, 2012
Dr. Mead was a wonderful, kind, generous man. It was my pleasure to have known him. Like so many members of the P.K.Yonge family, he took so many pictures that I treasure everyday. May he R.I.P. Many prayers being sent to his family. Dr. Mead will always be remembered by so many.
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