RANSOM FRANKLIN EUGENE was born in Dallas on Feb. 10, 1924 and passed away on Dec. 2, 2003. Frank played football and graduated from Crozier Tech in 1942, then joined the Merchant Marines and played a major role in getting supplies and materiel to Murmanks, Russia and other Allied destinations during World War II. He was also part of the Normandy Invasion at D-Day, being a crew member of a scuttle ship abandoned for two days before being rescued. His brother Foster died in a tragic fire while Frank was in grade school, and his mother Lily died just before he graduated from high school. Older brother James's ship was torpedoed and sank in the English Channel on Christmas Day, 1944, and brother Tom passed on three years ago. Frank's father Ed died in 1955. Frank retired from the Merchant Marines after twenty years, then worked in offshore oil exploration until he was 65. Unable to stay retired, Frank worked part-time for a local parts manufacturer until he was 75, riding his bicycle to and from work about five miles a day. Frank is survived by the love of his life Winnie, to whom he was married and extremely devoted for 46 years, and two step-sons, Thomas Nelson Taylor and wife Patricia of Boston, and Christopher Randolph Taylor of Dallas. Grandchildren include Anna Michele Harry and husband Robert of Austin; Amanda, Michael, and Dylan Taylor of Boston; Stacy Taylor of Houston; and Ben Taylor of Dallas. He is also survived by sister-in-law Earlene Ransom of Dallas, her children Gail Venturi of Denver, (Greg and Kelly Pineda) and Karen and Doug Haislip of Atlanta, Georgia (Todd and Zach). There are numerous cousins and additional relatives. Frank will always be remembered as a loving husband and father and the genuine article who generally said exactly what he meant. He loved football, was an avid reader and crossword puzzle enthusiast, and owned almost 200 movies which he watched often. He represented Tom Brokaw's "the greatest generation" to a tee; he was all about honor, patriotism, integrity, hard work, and humility, and deserves now to rest from all his labors as he waits patiently for Winnie in Heaven. A memorial service will be held Sunday evening, Dec. 7th at 6:00 p.m. at the Community of Christ Church, 602 S. Grove Road (corner of Grove and Spring Valley) in Richardson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community of Christ Church, 602 S. Grove Road, Richardson, Texas 75081.

Published in Dallas Morning News from Dec. 6 to Dec. 7, 2003
(Legacy.com)