Frank N. Core

Frank N. Core, 69, passed peacefully in his sleep in the predawn hours on Friday, May 22, 2015, at his home.

Frank was born April 5, 1946, to Jeremiah C. Core and Elizabeth "Mother" Core in Tampa, Fla. He graduated from Middleton High School and attended college before enlisting in the Army and served as an Airborne Ranger during the Vietnam War. He completed computer programming training and was stationed at the Continental Army Command at Fort Monroe, Va. He met the love of his life at Fort Benning before deployment to Vietnam and were married on June 21, 1969 in Boston. He began a 20-year career with Honeywell as a Systems Analyst Manager where he launched a team innovating Automated Testing Systems throughout the United States. In 1991, he acquired licensing for his project with Honeywell and started Core Technology Group Inc. and later developed the state of the art Web Based Testing Application System for Certification Exams.

He sold his company to Thomson Corporation, Prometric in 2004, where the system is currently used throughout the world. He retired with his wife east of Billings where he built a new life for them and his family. He had a fire of passion in all aspects of his life, a heart of gold and a smile that lifted the spirits of all that knew him.

Frank bought his first thoroughbred in the early 80s at Yellowstone Downs, Phi Alpha. He then met trainer Melvin James (broke "Affirmed" - the last Triple Crown winner) in Florida.

Then acquired "Mr. Tooth" and qualified to race in the Kentucky Derby and became ill with pneumonia. Mr. Tooth retired alongside his owner where he was laid to rest. He completed his venture in horse racing after the sale of a mare at the prestigious Keeneland sale in Lexington, Ky.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Jeremiah C. and Elizabeth Core; brother Charles Core; and sister Martha Anne Davis.

Frank is survived by his wife, Emma Core; daughter Randine Bankston and her husband Bryan Bankston; grandchildren Oliviah Arviso, Tyler Bankston, and Zachary Bankston; brothers James Core (Yoshiko) and Luther Core (Joy); sisters Miriam Stokes (Joe), Gloria Newton, Brenda Seay (Johnny), Carrie Core and Deborah Balkman.

Celebration of life for friends and family will take place at 1 p.m. May 27 at his home. A potluck dinner will follow - feel free to bring a dish.