Walter C. Frankenberger was born June 10, 1931, to Earl and Marie (Gerritson) Frankenberger in Aberdeen.
He attended Aberdeen Central High School and graduated in 1949. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951, where he was stationed in Fort Worth, Texas; High Wycombe, England; Goose Bay, Labrador; Tucson, Ariz.; and Ankara, Turkey. He proudly served his country for 21 years. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he moved back to Aberdeen, where he was a small business owner and finally finished his working career with 10 years at Wal-Mart. In 2010, Walt and Marilee moved to Fort Collins, Colo.
He married Marilee E.
Mear on June 26, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas. In their 58 years of marriage, they enjoyed chili cookoffs, traveling and raising their three children.
Walt was very active in his local American Legion, 40 ET 8, and ICS-International Chili Society. He competed in chili cook-offs where he fondly became known as “King Chili,” having his own recipe and tips column in the local newspaper, “Ask King Chili.” Walt loved to cook and bake, play darts, travel and add CDs to his extensive music collection. Walt was a fun-loving person who loved people and had a never ending supply of practical jokes, wise cracks and conversation. Those who knew him could count on his antics and keen sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife, Marilee of Fort Collins, Colo.; one son, Lee (Laura) Frankenberg of Fort Collins, Colo.; two daughters: Suzanne (Bart) Palmer of Bethesda, Maryland, and Tinika (Corey) Rosenbaum of Arlington, Texas; eight grandchildren: Timothy Palmer, Brant Palmer, Eric Palmer, Michelle Frankenberger-Fletcher, Michael Frankenberger, Jason Rosenbaum, Kaitlyn Rosenbaum and Erin Rosenbaum; five greatgrandchildren: Julia Palmer, Sara Palmer, Nathan Palmer, Avery Fletcher and Addison Fletcher; one sister, Elizabeth Heathman of Aberdeen; and one brother James Frankenberger of Walker Minn.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at 12 p.m. followed by an interment at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider making a donation to Wounded Warriors or The Alzheimer’s Association.
Please visit allnutt.com to view Walt’s online obituary and send your condolences to the family.
He attended Aberdeen Central High School and graduated in 1949. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951, where he was stationed in Fort Worth, Texas; High Wycombe, England; Goose Bay, Labrador; Tucson, Ariz.; and Ankara, Turkey. He proudly served his country for 21 years. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he moved back to Aberdeen, where he was a small business owner and finally finished his working career with 10 years at Wal-Mart. In 2010, Walt and Marilee moved to Fort Collins, Colo.
He married Marilee E.
Mear on June 26, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas. In their 58 years of marriage, they enjoyed chili cookoffs, traveling and raising their three children.
Walt was very active in his local American Legion, 40 ET 8, and ICS-International Chili Society. He competed in chili cook-offs where he fondly became known as “King Chili,” having his own recipe and tips column in the local newspaper, “Ask King Chili.” Walt loved to cook and bake, play darts, travel and add CDs to his extensive music collection. Walt was a fun-loving person who loved people and had a never ending supply of practical jokes, wise cracks and conversation. Those who knew him could count on his antics and keen sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife, Marilee of Fort Collins, Colo.; one son, Lee (Laura) Frankenberg of Fort Collins, Colo.; two daughters: Suzanne (Bart) Palmer of Bethesda, Maryland, and Tinika (Corey) Rosenbaum of Arlington, Texas; eight grandchildren: Timothy Palmer, Brant Palmer, Eric Palmer, Michelle Frankenberger-Fletcher, Michael Frankenberger, Jason Rosenbaum, Kaitlyn Rosenbaum and Erin Rosenbaum; five greatgrandchildren: Julia Palmer, Sara Palmer, Nathan Palmer, Avery Fletcher and Addison Fletcher; one sister, Elizabeth Heathman of Aberdeen; and one brother James Frankenberger of Walker Minn.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at 12 p.m. followed by an interment at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider making a donation to Wounded Warriors or The Alzheimer’s Association.
Please visit allnutt.com to view Walt’s online obituary and send your condolences to the family.
