Frank Edmund McGrath

Frank Edmund McGrath, 87, of Lawrence, formerly of Topeka, passed away, Sunday, November 11, 2007. Frank was born on February 12, 1920 in Topeka, KS, the son of Dale and Jennie Grant McGrath. He graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Illinois in 1938. He graduated from Washburn University in 1942, and received a masters degree from Kansas University in 1949. He married Patricia Jane Long McGrath on August 29, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia. She died December 8, 2003. He is survived by three sons and their wives, Barry G. McGrath and his wife Barbara, Littleton, CO; Dr. Roland B. McGrath and his wife Claire, Zionsville, IN, and Randall E. McGrath and his wife, Karen, Lawrence, KS. He is also survived by six grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. While attending Washburn, Mr. McGrath played varsity football for four years and was a sectional honorable mention all-American in 1941. He was president of Alpha Delta fraternity, vice-president of the sophomore class, and elected to Sagamore, a mens honorary fraternity. Mr. McGrath was a teacher and coach a Paola High School from 1946-47. He was a teacher and coach at Roosevelt Jr. High and Topeka High School from 1947 to 1950. He served as director of health, physical education and safety for the Topeka School system from 1951-1955. He was president of Capper Foundation from 1955 to 1985. He served in the U.S. Navy in the American, European-African and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters of war in World War II. He retired with rank of lieutenant commander. Mr. McGrath served on the board of directors and was past president of the Washburn Alumni Association. He was a trustee and past president of the Washburn Endowment Association. He was a past member of the board of directors of the Ichabod Club. He was a past member of the board of directors of Alpha Delta Alumni Association. He was named "Alum of the Year" by Alpha Delta fraternity in 1975. He was awarded the Washburn Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1991. Mr. McGrath was past president of the Topeka Tennis Club, past president of Topeka Knife and Fork Club, past president of Rotary Club of Topeka and was named a Paul Harris fellow by the Topeka Rotary Club. He was a past member of the board of directors of the Topeka YMCA and American Red Cross, Topeka chapter. He was awarded the Knights of Columbus "Man of the Year" award in 1983. He was past member of the Governors Commission for the Employment of the Handicapped. He was a member of Lowman Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Thursday, November 15, 2007 at the Lowman United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. McGrath will lie in state after 12:00noon Wednesday at the Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. To leave a message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.