Frank W. Jarvis Jr.

JARVIS WINSTON-SALEM Frank W. Jarvis, Jr. Feb. 8, 1927 - Jan. 28, 2012 Mr. Frank W. Jarvis, Jr., a faithful husband, father, grandfather, deacon and friend, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, NC. He was born February 8, 1927, to Ethel and Frank W. Jarvis. He lived an exemplary life, always exuding gratitude and devoted to caring for his wife of more than 50 years, Jean Jarvis. Frank spent substantial time in his early years in Mars Hill, NC, and regularly spent summers working on farms owned by his aunts and uncles on Jarvis Branch, just north of Mars Hill. After careers in teaching, his parents retired there, and Frank faithfully visited them and loved to walk the hills around Jarvis Branch. Frank attended NC State to study engineering and there commenced his life-long affinity for the Wolfpack. His college years were interrupted by his service in the Navy toward the end of the Second World War, in 1945-46. After his military service, he returned to NC State and graduated in 1949 with a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering. Frank's working career brought him to Burlington, NC. He worked in engineering for many years with Western Electric and then AT&T, ultimately working at the large AT&T facility between Burlington and Greensboro. His career prompted great organizational skills and attention to details. While in Burlington and faithfully attending church there, he met Jean Massey, fell in love, and proposed to her. Frank and Jean married June 18, 1960, and began their 51-year journey together. As Jean and Frank prepared for the arrival of their first-born, they tried to anticipate all the logistical details for a baby at home. Like many other stories, Frank loved telling the story of how they learned shortly before birth that he needed to have not one, but two cribs, and two of everything, for twins who would be born within two weeks. Frank and Jean raised their two daughters, Susan and Carolyn, in Burlington, teaching them patience, kindness, gentleness, gratefulness and perseverance, all gifts that Frank modeled well. Frank made many friends in Burlington through Sunday School and Kiwanis and other civic organizations. In 2007, Frank and Jean moved to Salemtowne and made new friends and met many faithful and caring employees who worked there. Frank routinely expressed his gratitude to the staff for their service and help. Frank also devoted himself to making sure Jean was well cared for, as they had a wonderful partnership caring for each other. Frank loved family gatherings, because he loved family, loved telling stories and loved asking others to recount stories. He also found that family gatherings usually provided an opportunity for a pot-luck feast, which he also enjoyed enthusiastically. Frank was confidently full of faith, trusting in Jesus, and now undoubtedly enjoys heaven, which for him likely means fishing, worship, mealtimes, story-telling, gardening and the restoration of his hearing and his walking. Frank is survived by his wife, Jean Massey Jarvis of Winston-Salem (Salemtowne); his two daughters, Susan LaMaire and Carolyn Doherty, and a son-in-law, Lou Doherty, all of Winston-Salem; six grandchildren, Sarah LaMaire, Rebecca LaMaire, Christina LaMaire, Elizabeth Doherty, Laura Doherty and Jay Doherty, all of Winston-Salem. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, February 4, 2012, at 1:00 pm, at the Saal in the community center at Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston-Salem (off Bethabara Park Blvd; for further directions, see www.Salemtowne.org and the contact tab there). After the service, the family will receive guests at a nearby reception room. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Frank's honor to Salemtowne, Inc., 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston-Salem, 27106. Online condolences may be made to www.frankvoglerandsons.com