Uniontown
Franklin Delano Kennison, of Uniontown, passed away on Friday, April 29, 2022 due to complications from an accidental fall. He was 86 years 7 months 2 days old. He died peacefully, in his sleep, at his daughter’s home in DeLand, Florida.
“June,” as family and close friends called him, served as an aviator in the US Navy from January 1956 to December 1959. His stories about the Gooney Birds while stationed at Midway Island were comical . He was honorably discharged to San Francisco, California, where he was obligated to the Naval Reserve until 1962. There he met his first wife and they had two girls.
After divorcing, Frank returned to Pennsylvania in 1966, where he began working at the local rock quarry. He was a member of Construction General Laborers and Material Handlers Union Local 1058 for more than 50 years.
Frank’s absolute passions were hunting, fishing, and eating, not necessarily in that order. Ever since he was a little boy (if he could miss school or an event), he would pick up a fishing rod, gun, bow or knife to hunt deer, squirrels, raccoons, catfish and more. Then he would say that it is “time to put the feeding bag” and smile.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin Pierce Kennison (1987) and Minnie Rebecca Kingan Kennison (1982); brother, John Wesley Kennison (2011); second wife, Maria Magdalena Rafter Kennison (2012).
Frank is survived by his first wife, Mrs. Foss, and his daughters, Terry Jean Kennison Foss (Gray) Williams and Julie Ann Kennison Foss. Frank is also survived by his son-in-law, Thomas Williams, Jr., and his children, Thomas Williams III and Pamela Williams Kaiser. He is survived by his grandchildren, Garylee Earl Gray, Tyler Austin Gray, Brooke Williams, Elijah Kaiser, Analise Andresen; and friends, Debi Cossette and Gerrianne Ondrovic. Frank had a great-grandson at the time of his death, Eowyn Iris Gray. Frank enjoyed every minute he spent with all of his children and grandchildren and loved his blended family. Frank is also survived by his mother’s sisters, aunts Margaret “Marg” Kingan Switalski, Alberta “Birdy” Kingan Switalski, Laurabelle “Bub” Kingan Conley, Kate “Toots” Kingan Barton; as well as his sister, Norma Jean Kennison Hartman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
About a week before Frank’s death, he asked to video chat with his longtime friends, Cindy and Donald “Joker” Tabasko. He said, “Joker, I have bad news for you.” Joker responded, “What’s that, Frank?” to which he said “Joker, we’re all going to die, but it looks like I’m going first.” Cindy and Joker were Frank’s closest and dearest friends. After ending the call, Frank said, “I’ll make sure to greet you on the other end.” This was very frank. He would meet his friends and family again at the “happy hunting grounds in the sky” and hoped that his mother, Minnie, would also have a cake waiting for him.
We all miss Frank’s warm smile, which lit up our world. Of all of Frank’s lifetime achievements, the greatest was being loved by so many.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 pm, the time of service, on Tuesday, September 6, at STEPHEN R. HAKY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 603 N. Gallatin Avenue Ext., Uniontown, followed by a graveside interment for remains cremated at Mountain View Memorial Park, Brownfield.