William Franklin “Frank” Armfield, Jr. passed away at his home on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at the age of 96.
Frank was born on September 4, 1921 in Bonifay, Florida to Minnie Eva Hickman and William Franklin Armfield, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 62 years Shirley “Marguerite” Fielding Armfield, and his only sibling Eva “Anne” Armfield.
Frank is survived by sister-in-law Lois “Sybil” Fielding Stevens and her husband Dr. Roy S. Stevens; niece Debra “Debby” Stevens Nelson and her husband Glen; great-nephew Douglas “Doug” Hartley, his wife Patricia and their children Jessica Lane Hartley and James Nelson “Jamie” Hartley; great-niece Jennifer Roberson, her husband Chad and their children Bailey, Bentlee, Bella and Mac Roberson; and special family friend Todd Thompson, his wife Lisa and daughter Emma Grace Thompson.
Visitation will be Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Elkins Funeral Home, Florence, from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel with Rev. Robert Sparkman officiating. Frank will be laid to rest at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Glen Nelson, Doug Hartley, Jamie Hartley, Todd Thompson, Chad Roberson and Bobby Richardson.
Frank served in the United States Army with pride and distinction for 25 years, entering the Army as a private in 1946 and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1971. His remarkable career included service in World War II, and in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, where he saw combat action. During his enlistment Frank served at several Army bases and installations in the United States, Japan and Germany as a pilot of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Among Frank’s many medals and awards are the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. Upon retiring from the military, Frank enjoyed a second ten-year career as a counselor with the Alabama Rehabilitation Service.
Frank was a loyal and faithful member of First United Methodist Church and the W.A. Graham Sunday School Class, a member of the Florence Lions Club (with perfect attendance for over 40 years), and one of the biggest fans of the University of North Alabama athletic program.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts in memory of Frank to the First United Methodist Church of Florence or the University of North Alabama Scholarship Fund.
The family would like to acknowledge with great appreciation the service of Frank’s longtime housekeeper Hazel Wilbanks, and his compassionate caregivers Bobby Richardson, Regina Howard, Raven Harden, Tierra Green, Brenda Green, Youlanda Yarbrough, Caitlin Alexander, the staff of Gentiva Hospice, and his special friend and neighbor Pam Ray.
Elkins Funeral Home invites you to leave your condolences at www.elkinsfuneralhome.com
