Frank Howard Kline

Frank Howard Kline, 75, of Dayton, Oregon, passed away on February 9, 2026, at the VA Hospital in Portland, Oregon, after a brief and courageous battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Frank was born on August 23, 1950, in Lynwood, California. He proudly served in the United States Army before embarking on a lifetime of entrepreneurship. Frank was self-employed nearly his entire life and built multiple businesses through hard work, grit, and an unwavering belief in taking care of others. Over the years, he owned and operated a TV repair business, a furniture business, a U-Haul dealership, and a property management company. If something needed fixing, building, hauling, or figuring out - Frank was your guy.

But while he worked hard, he loved even harder.

At the center of his life was his marriage to the love of his life, Julie. Frank and Julie were married for 51 years - a partnership full of adventure, loyalty, laughter, and deep devotion. Julie was his steady compass. She packed for their countless trips, kept track of the details, reminded him where he put things, and somehow always knew exactly where "that thing" was when he inevitably asked. It wasn't uncommon to hear Frank calling out, "Julie, where's my…?" before she calmly solved the mystery. Together they traveled to Sunriver, Mexico, the coast, the casino, and anywhere adventure called. In this past year, as Frank slowed down with work, the two of them embraced even more day trips and spontaneous outings, making the most of every moment.

Frank was a proud and devoted father to Renee Baker and Ryan Kline, and an even prouder grandfather to Tayler, Virginia, and Addisyn Baker. He rarely missed a chance to be at their sporting events, barrel races, and adventures. Even after his own children were grown, you could still find him in the stands at Dayton sporting events, cheering just as loudly.

He is survived by his wife Julie; his children Renee and Ryan; his grandchildren Tayler, Virginia, and Addisyn; and his siblings Nancy Schaecher, Mary Peterson, Tom Kline, Kathleen Espejo and Howard Kline. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Virginia Kline.

Frank lived on 10 acres that he proudly called his "farm," complete with his hazelnut orchard. He loved working the land alongside his son Ryan - some days accomplishing big projects, other days accomplishing less (but enjoying it just the same). Whether it was tending the orchard, tinkering with equipment, or simply surveying the property from his truck, he found peace and pride in that land.

Frank was many things - always positive, always smiling, deeply protective, adventurous, and endlessly devoted to his family. He preferred taking care of everyone else before himself. He had a gift for making people feel welcome, important, and heard. He truly loved hearing about what was going on in your life - and if you called needing help, he would drop everything to be there.

He was also endlessly patient - patient beyond what most people could fathom. With his family, with his work, with life's inconveniences - he carried a steady calm that anchored everyone around him.

He loved the simple joys: mustard and pickles and his hot dogs, red licorice, free popcorn at Les Schwab, and his latte at Ford. He loved going to the movies, making Costco runs for his daughter & granddaughters, playing cribbage or mexican train, hot yoga, boating, supporting the Dayton FFA, traveling to Sunriver and Mexico with his family, and especially his trips to Akumal with his cherished group of friends. In this past year, as he worked less, he and Julie embraced day trips to the coast, casino outings, and spontaneous adventures - squeezing every bit of joy out of life.

Frank lived by encouragement. He was always reminding others to stay positive. When caught dozing off, he'd say with a grin, "I'm just resting my eyes - I'm not asleep." And when his kids were younger he'd confidently tell them, "You are going to go, and you are going to have fun."

People loved his smile. They loved his hugs. They loved his humor and his adventurous spirit. Most of all, they loved that he was simply always there. Steady. Present. Involved. Interested. Supportive. He was a constant - a man who made life fuller just by being in it.

A service celebrating Frank's life will be held on February 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Amity Christian Church (1305 Goucher St, Amity, Or 97101). His ashes will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Dayton FFA Alumni & Supporters (PO Box 653,Dayton, OR 97114) or Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/).

Frank lived a life well traveled, well loved, and well lived. His legacy lives on in the laughter, strength, and adventurous spirit of his family and all who were lucky enough to know him