Henry Donald Frantz, Jr.

Henry Donald Frantz, Jr., age 74, passed away while on the island of Maui, Hawaii on March 10, 2025. Henry exited this life while pursuing some of his great passions, exploration and travel.

Henry was born on May 1, 1950 in Glen Cove, NY, to Henry Donald Frantz, Sr and Mary Pinar Frantz. He spent a decade of his youth in Hong Kong while his father was assigned there as a captain for Pan Am Airlines. Henry was introduced to the bagpipes while attending a British school in Hong Kong, and thus began a lifelong love of Scottish and Irish music for him. Henry's family returned to the United States and settled in Miami, Florida. Henry went on to earn his Bachelor's (1971) and Law degrees (1974) with honors from Emory University in Atlanta. As an alumnus, he was asked to play the bagpipes for the graduation ceremony, and he would eventually compose their graduation hymn "The Emory and Old St. Andrews March" in 1986.

Henry was an attorney for 50 years, but ultimately, he was a musician to the core. He was a founding member of the Atlanta Pipe Band in 1970. He was fortunate to share and perform music with the love of his life, his wife, Frances Brodnax Frantz. Henry married Fran on September 28, 1988. They were actively involved and invested in their town of Decatur their entire marriage until Fran's death in 2018. Henry was always curious and loved learning, and he became a fossil hunter and collector mid-life. He spent his "retirement" years fossil hunting and traveling. He was fortunate to be accompanied on his most recent journeys by his friend and companion, Georgette Willix.

Henry is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Fran, and his son, Henry Doyle Colon "Hank" Frantz. He is survived by his children Mary F. Tucker (Richard), Elizabeth F. Greer (Wesley), Edith Augusta F. Grabowsky (Kevin), and Francis Rebecca F. Culpepper (James), and by his two sisters, Corrine E. Frantz, Ph.D. (Bruce Van Dover) and Lisa F. Frantz. Henry leaves behind ten grandchildren, in whom he took great pride and will be lovingly remembered by: Jacob Greer, Matthew Greer, Caroline Tucker, Anna (Will) Jennings, Catherine Greer, Martha Tucker, William Tucker, Renate Grabowsky, Augusta Grabowsky, and Padhraig Culpepper.

A memorial service for Henry will be held at Turner & Sons of Decatur Saturday, April 5th at 2:30.