| Ralph K. Frangioni |
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Published in Northwest Florida Daily News from August 25 to August 26, 2011
Ralph K. "TONY" Frangioni passed away Sunday, Aug. 21,
2011, at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. With God at his
back, the old Map Maker is at peace floating through the
heavenly constellations he loved so much.
Born March 25, 1917, in Washington, D.C., to Andrea
and Vincenza Vallario Frangioni, he was the oldest of three
children. Following graduation from McKinley Tech High
School in 1935, Tony married his high school sweetheart
Sarah NAOMI Lanham. He was a superb athlete in his youth,
an engineer by trade and later a cartographer by choice.
He started work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Ft. Myer, Va.,
helped lay out and build Bolling Field as well as Anacostia Naval Base,
Washington, D.C., before embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime when in
1940 he took his young wife and small daughter Loretta KAY to the Panama
Canal Zone. During World War II Tony worked as a Lead Engineer with the
Corps of Engineers building facilities associated with the protection of the Canal.
Two sons, Andrea P. and Ralph K., Jr., were born there on the Canal Zone.
In 1946 Tony became a charter employee of The Inter-American-Geodetic Survey
(IAGS), an Army Map Service organization tasked with mapping the Americas.
On into the 1950s, using his bilingual talents, engineering and surveying skills,
Tony traveled throughout Central and South America mapping those continents by
the stars. By 1952 he was Chief of the Cartographic School for IAGS; he managed
the instruc-tion of mapping skills with students from countries all over Latin
America.
He became very active in Freemasonry work while in the Canal Zone, was a
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a York Rite Knight Templar and was a Past
Potentate of Abou Saad Shrine, Past Patron of Eastern Star also. He served many
years as Secretary of the C.Z. Scottish Rite Temple, was recognized with many
honors and awards…received Rainbow's Grand Cross of Color and Demolay's
Legion of Honor.
Tony transferred in 1967 back to Washington with The U.S. Army Map
Service, then chose retirement in February 1969. Thereafter he and Naomi moved
to Clearwater, Fla., where he dabbled in real estate, remained active in
Freemasonry, the Shrine and enjoyed playing golf. 1985 brought the move to Fort
Walton Beach with his ailing wife so they could be near son Ralph. Three years
later he lost Naomi to cancer.
Great happiness came when he met and married his angel, Dorothy Sirmon
Kornegay. Equally satisfying were the loving relationships developed with
Dorothy's grown children, their families, her devoted sisters, brother and spouses!
Their 22 years together brought love to each and joy to the entire blended family.
Tony became active in Alpha Masonic Lodge in Fort Walton Beach and the
Shrine. Both were active in Eastern Star and their beloved First United Methodist
Church in various meaningful ministries of Christian service.
Tony was predeceased by his wife, S. Naomi Frangioni; son, Andrea P.
Frangioni; his sister, Carmela Frangioni Gissendanner; and his brother, Kenneth
Francis Frangioni. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Kay (Gerald M.
"Jerry") Pierce, of Conroe, Texas; his son, Ralph K. Frangioni, Jr. (Marie) of Fort
Walton Beach; Dorothy's son, Donald Kornegay (Lisa) of Niceville, Fla.;
daughter, Marian McBryde (Don) of Fort Walton Beach; son, Dennis Kornegay
(Betsey Potter) of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughter, Karen Lusk (Kevin) of
Crestview, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Kathy, Jan, Lorie, Ralph III, Greg, Kevin, John,
Angela, Kyle and Kody; and 10 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Melissa, Stephanie,
Michael, Mallory, Robert, Ryan, Haley, Sydney and Emma; also niece, Rose
(Raymond) Fieghenne; nephew, Henry (Linda) Frangioni of Maryland; niece,
Marie Parker of Odenville, Ala.; nephew, Vincent Eades (Connie) of Parkersburg,
W.V.
Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at First United Methodist
Church, 103 First St. S.E., Fort Walton Beach, beginning at 2 p.m., with a brief
Masonic Service presented by members of Alpha Masonic Lodge of Fort Walton
Beach. The Memorial Service will be at 3 p.m., conducted by Rev. Michael Sigler,
followed by visitation and a reception in the Church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Children
Transportation Fund in memory of Ralph K. Frangioni. Please mail to Fort Walton
Beach Shrine Club, P.O. Box 1, Fort Walton Beach FL 32549; Covenant Hospice,
101 Hart St., Niceville FL 32578, or to the charity of your choice.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave. S.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL has
been entrusted with the arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or
submitted online at www.McLaughlinMortuary.com.
Ralph K. "TONY" Frangioni passed away Sunday, Aug. 21,
2011, at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. With God at his
back, the old Map Maker is at peace floating through the
heavenly constellations he loved so much.
Born March 25, 1917, in Washington, D.C., to Andrea
and Vincenza Vallario Frangioni, he was the oldest of three
children. Following graduation from McKinley Tech High
School in 1935, Tony married his high school sweetheart
Sarah NAOMI Lanham. He was a superb athlete in his youth,
an engineer by trade and later a cartographer by choice.
He started work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Ft. Myer, Va.,
helped lay out and build Bolling Field as well as Anacostia Naval Base,
Washington, D.C., before embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime when in
1940 he took his young wife and small daughter Loretta KAY to the Panama
Canal Zone. During World War II Tony worked as a Lead Engineer with the
Corps of Engineers building facilities associated with the protection of the Canal.
Two sons, Andrea P. and Ralph K., Jr., were born there on the Canal Zone.
In 1946 Tony became a charter employee of The Inter-American-Geodetic Survey
(IAGS), an Army Map Service organization tasked with mapping the Americas.
On into the 1950s, using his bilingual talents, engineering and surveying skills,
Tony traveled throughout Central and South America mapping those continents by
the stars. By 1952 he was Chief of the Cartographic School for IAGS; he managed
the instruc-tion of mapping skills with students from countries all over Latin
America.
He became very active in Freemasonry work while in the Canal Zone, was a
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a York Rite Knight Templar and was a Past
Potentate of Abou Saad Shrine, Past Patron of Eastern Star also. He served many
years as Secretary of the C.Z. Scottish Rite Temple, was recognized with many
honors and awards…received Rainbow's Grand Cross of Color and Demolay's
Legion of Honor.
Tony transferred in 1967 back to Washington with The U.S. Army Map
Service, then chose retirement in February 1969. Thereafter he and Naomi moved
to Clearwater, Fla., where he dabbled in real estate, remained active in
Freemasonry, the Shrine and enjoyed playing golf. 1985 brought the move to Fort
Walton Beach with his ailing wife so they could be near son Ralph. Three years
later he lost Naomi to cancer.
Great happiness came when he met and married his angel, Dorothy Sirmon
Kornegay. Equally satisfying were the loving relationships developed with
Dorothy's grown children, their families, her devoted sisters, brother and spouses!
Their 22 years together brought love to each and joy to the entire blended family.
Tony became active in Alpha Masonic Lodge in Fort Walton Beach and the
Shrine. Both were active in Eastern Star and their beloved First United Methodist
Church in various meaningful ministries of Christian service.
Tony was predeceased by his wife, S. Naomi Frangioni; son, Andrea P.
Frangioni; his sister, Carmela Frangioni Gissendanner; and his brother, Kenneth
Francis Frangioni. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Kay (Gerald M.
"Jerry") Pierce, of Conroe, Texas; his son, Ralph K. Frangioni, Jr. (Marie) of Fort
Walton Beach; Dorothy's son, Donald Kornegay (Lisa) of Niceville, Fla.;
daughter, Marian McBryde (Don) of Fort Walton Beach; son, Dennis Kornegay
(Betsey Potter) of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughter, Karen Lusk (Kevin) of
Crestview, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Kathy, Jan, Lorie, Ralph III, Greg, Kevin, John,
Angela, Kyle and Kody; and 10 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Melissa, Stephanie,
Michael, Mallory, Robert, Ryan, Haley, Sydney and Emma; also niece, Rose
(Raymond) Fieghenne; nephew, Henry (Linda) Frangioni of Maryland; niece,
Marie Parker of Odenville, Ala.; nephew, Vincent Eades (Connie) of Parkersburg,
W.V.
Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at First United Methodist
Church, 103 First St. S.E., Fort Walton Beach, beginning at 2 p.m., with a brief
Masonic Service presented by members of Alpha Masonic Lodge of Fort Walton
Beach. The Memorial Service will be at 3 p.m., conducted by Rev. Michael Sigler,
followed by visitation and a reception in the Church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Children
Transportation Fund in memory of Ralph K. Frangioni. Please mail to Fort Walton
Beach Shrine Club, P.O. Box 1, Fort Walton Beach FL 32549; Covenant Hospice,
101 Hart St., Niceville FL 32578, or to the charity of your choice.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave. S.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL has
been entrusted with the arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or
submitted online at www.McLaughlinMortuary.com.
| Ralph K. "Tony" Frangioni (1917-2011) |