Frank Caldwell

After 89 years of living life to its fullest, our husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa, Frank Edward Caldwell, was called home Dec. 18, 2012. Frank was born in Brockton, Mass., on Nov. 3, 1923, to William Henry Caldwell and Mildred Caroline Pierce Caldwell. He was a fun-loving kid who spent time with friends, loved to go to the black and white movies for a nickel, swimming in the local pond, and participating in Boy Scouts. As a boy, he witnessed the Hindenburg airship fly over his grade school and attended class with Rocky Marciano, the famous boxer. After attending Brockton High School, he worked in his father’s car repair shop until he enlisted in the United States Navy on April 6, 1942.
He had a long, distinguished career serving his country in World War II, Korea and many other military operations. He earned commendation masts for serving above and beyond the call of duty, one for overruling the orders of a superior officer to save the destroyer on which he was serving and its crew.
On July 4, 1959, he met his sweetheart, Alice Lavera Lute, onboard the Charles H. Roan destroyer in Detroit, Mich., during Operation Inland Seas and the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. On Sept. 13, 1962, they were married at Moffet Field Naval Air Station in Mountain View, Calif., and celebrated their Golden Anniversary together this year.
Frank retired from the Navy in June 1967 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer with 21 years of service, and moved to Idaho to raise a family. Frank loved Idaho, where he constructed his own home, owned horses, enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Birch Creek Valley, and proclaimed himself a Birch Creek Methodist. Frank also liked traveling to Montana and frequented Jackpot, Nev., to try his luck. He was known to sing funny songs and was fond of listening to his Burl Ives records. As a grandpa, he especially loved having his grandkids visit in the summer to camp and fish with him. The grandkids have fond memories of making things in grandpa’s wood shop, picking vegetables in the garden, and riding in the pick-up to go catch a fish or get ice cream.
No one could have asked for a more wonderful father or grandfather. He was kind, quick to smile and always kept his word. He was willing to lend a helping hand and encouraged everyone to improve their knowledge, often saying, “Volunteer for everything. You’ll become the expert.”
He was the perfect example of the greatest generation that ever lived, and has now joined the ranks of our nation’s finest who passed before him. Frank will retire from this earth in uniform, accompanied by a new fishing pole recently received on his birthday and pictures drawn by his great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, as well as his sister, Trenetta Caroline Saba.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; daughter, Linda (Brad) Peterson; grandchildren, Mandy (Andrew) Hedrick, Justin (Dana) Peterson, and Demi Peterson (Jordan Matthews); great-grandchildren, Alex and Connor Hedrick; and two nieces.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Bountiful City Cemetery. Friends and family may attend a viewing that day from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main St. in Bountiful.
We love you, Dad. You really were a “damn good sailor.”