Frank G. Navarro

The Rev. Frank G. Navarro, age 79, of Seligman, Mo., passed away Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Joplin Rehabilitation Center, Joplin, Mo. He was born Oct. 27, 1929, in Santa Rosa, Calif., the son of Frank and Margaret (Tillotson) Navarro, who preceded him in death.He was also preceded in death by two brothers; two sisters; one sister-in-law; and his wife of 16 years, Faith Navarro. He is survived by four sons, Frank Navarro and his wife, Gayl, of Joplin, Mike Navarro and his wife, Judy, of Diamond, Mo., Ed Navarro and his wife, Tana, of Oronogo, Mo., and Lyndel Navarro and his wife, Tammy, of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; two daughters, Diana Chapman and her husband, Richard, of Gage, Okla., and Susan Jordon, of Independence, Mo.; one brother, Allen Navarro, of Santa Rosa; two sisters, Gloria Tienda and her husband, Mike, and Rosemary Montenegro and her husband, Elias, both of Healdsburg; one step-son, Rodney Scheuerman, of Great Bend, Kan.; two step-daughters, Bethany Scheuerman, of Ponca City, Okla., and Darcy Nimmo, of Houston, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 10 nephews; and five nieces. Frank was a 1948 graduate of Healdsburg High School. He received an associates degree in accounting from Santa Rosa Jr. College in 1952. From Nov. 18, 1949, until Nov. 17, 1952, Frank served in The Army National Guard of the United States and The Army National Guard of California. In 1958, he graduated from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif. In 1960, he was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister at Hopland First Baptist Church, Hopland, Calif. He and his family moved to Joplin in 1963. Then he was a pastor at many area churches in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas for over 45 years. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church, Cassville, Mo.His favorite pastimes were hunting and camping. Throughout his travels, he assisted local law enforcement and social agencies as an investigator and interpreter, as he spoke several languages, including French, German and Spanish. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, in Victory Baptist Church, Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. The Rev. Russell Bishop will conduct the services. Burial will be in King Cemetery, Seligman. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, in Fohn Funeral Home. Contributions may be made to Victory Baptist Church Food Pantry in memory of Frank. For online obituaries, guestbook and privatecondolences, visitwww.fohnfuneralhome.com