Frank W. De Friece Jr.

Frank W. De Friece Jr. Frank W. De Friece Jr., a descendent of one of Tennessee's pioneer families and one of our region's most prominent, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. He was born on Jan. 29, 1921, in Bristol Tennessee, the son of the late Pauline Massengill De Friece and Frank William De Friece. He was educated in Bristol schools and a 1939 graduate of Tennessee High School. During his World War II military service, he served in the Pacific, first as an aerial photo Interpreter. Later, he headed a ground combat photo team and participated in three Initial assault landings. After the war, he earned a chemistry degree at Roanoke College, Salem, Va. Mr. De Friece married Marjorie Ruth Freels in 1948; they had three children and enjoyed 42 years of fulfilling family life. In 1992, Mr. De Friece was again blessed by marriage to Nancy B. Nowlin, who has been his devoted wife and companion. Nancy brought her son, Chet, into the family whose love and support Frank enjoyed. He was with the The S.E. Massengill Company, a world famous pharmaceutical firm founded in 1897 by his grandfather the late Dr. Samuel E. Massengill. He served as president from 1960 until 1971 when the company was sold to Beecham Group, a worldwide pharmaceutical firm based in England. Mr. De Friece was vice- chairman of the combined North American Division until his retirement. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, previously serving as a deacon and an elder. He was a past president of the Bristol Rotary Club where he was credited as the father of their coveted Rotary Teacher Awards Program. At the time of his death, he belonged to the National Advisory; Council of Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn. He was also a board member of the Salvation Army, Roanoke College and the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Mr. De Friece's past directorships included: Massengill De Friece Foundation; The American Red Cross; Community Chest/United Way; Janie Hamit Home; Dominion National Bank; First Tennessee Bank; Bristol Memorial Hospital; King College; Bristol Family YMCA; The Barter Foundation; American Humanics, Kansas City, Mo.; Presbyterian Board of World Missions; Union Theological Seminary; Southern Region YMCA; The YMCA of the USA; King Pharmaceuticals; PBS station WSJK/WKOP-TV; and Ivy MacKenzie Mutual Funds. Special honors include: "Boss of the Year", Tri-Cities Division, National Secretaries Association, Bristol, TN-VA, "Man of the Year", Family YMCA, Bristol, TN-VA, Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award (King College), Bristol Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow, The 4-way Test Award, Morning Rotary Club, Bristol TN-VA, Wellmont Hospital Foundation's Citizen's of Fame, together with wife, Nancy, Bristol Tennesee, Bristol Public Library Task Force, co-trustee Bristol Public Library Foundation, co-trustee Bristol Public Library Foundation (later, Albert C. Noble Library Trust), Founder of The Society of the Preservation of Outhouses, Laureate of the Business Hall of Fame, Tri-Cities Junior Achievement and Honoree Barter Theatre's "Walk of Fame." Mr. De Friece was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Freels De Friece; a sister, Marthina De Friece; and a grandson, Evan Ricely Wills. Survivors include his wife, Nancy B. De Friece; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Mary Nell De Friece of Savannah, Ga., and Paul and Val De Friece of Atlanta; a daughter and son-in-law, Polly and Dennis Wills of Decatur, Ga.; a stepson, Chester P. Sikorski III and his wife Katy; six grandchildren, Kate Emily and Samuel Clay De Friece, Drew Fleming and Wesley Frank Wills; Ford Edward and Julia Jane Sikorski; and a sister, Mrs. Josephine D. Wilson of Greenville, S.C. A funeral service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church, Bristol Tennessee, with Rev. Gordon Turnbull and Dr. Richard Ray officiating. A private burial will be held later. The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be sent to Barter Theatre Foundation, P.O. Box 867, Abingdon, VA 24210-0867; First Presbyterian Church, 701 Florida Ave., Bristol, TN 37620; or Roanoke College Foundation, 221 College Ave., Salem, VA 24153-3794. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@akardfuneralhome.com Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mr. Frank De Friece.