Franklin C. Wimmer, Jr.

Franklin Charles Wimmer Jr. of Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, passed away at his home on September 30, 2023. Frank's loving wife and high school sweetheart Debbie and pet Teddy were by his side. Treasured time was spent with son Brian and wife Kate, their last visit only days before Frank's transitioning on to heavenly peace.

Private arrangements were managed by Hartenstein Funeral and Cremation Care, Inc. of New Freedom, Pennsylvania. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

Frank was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 1, 1947, to his parents Franklin Wimmer Sr. and Bonnie Dykes Wimmer. He grew up in Parkville, Maryland, playing at Double Rock Park in Baltimore County. He was a skilled Schwinn biker often peddling 8 miles to see his grandmother. Frank and his childhood friends loved wintertime and sledding down the icy streets near Woodside. As a young guy he was quite astute at collecting empty soda bottles and running to the little store to redeem them for candy money. At 15 he worked his first formal job as an usher at the Colony movie theater. And he met his future wife during this same summer.

Frank graduated in 1965 from Parkville Senior High. He studied at the University of Baltimore, York College and Towson State for a degree in Business Administration and Communications. While in college, he parked cars for country clubs. He and his buddy car parkers told many stories about those times.

Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 during the Vietnam era. After basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Frank and Debbie were married at Saint Ursula Catholic Church in Parkville. He completed the Air Defense Radar Repair course at the U.S. Army Signal School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Frank was a Specialist 5th Class stationed in Coventry, Rhode Island. He supported U.S. Defense Department Nike Missile sites throughout New England.

After military service, Frank was employed as an electronics technician and later promoted to quality assurance engineer at Westinghouse Electric ILSD in Hunt Valley, Maryland. He worked there for almost 20 years. In 1990 the defense industry suffered downsizing and employees were laid off or transferred. Frank continued to work in the defense industry as a quality assurance manager at military contracted corporations. He became a Lead Assessor of Quality Systems ISO 9000 programs. Frank's positions required considerable integrity and skill to achieve contract compliance. He worked on projects involving the F-16, F-22, AWACS, M-109 Howitzer, and many others.

Throughout life, Frank loved photography, taking pictures and working with cameras. While in the Army he assisted with developing pictures and managing the post's photo lab. He later studied photography and took professional courses.  As the hobby evolved to digital cameras, his creative side achieved computer photo editing expertise. He set up albums for vintage photographs, and made DVD gifts for family.

Frank was an excellent speaker. He took speech courses in both high school and college. He continued to hone public speaking skills and was a willing participant when asked to make presentations. He even had a stint on local television.

Yard work held special challenges, but Frank never minded it because he loved his tractor and working with tools. When the going got tough, he appreciated the kindness of neighbors who came to his aid. His resting under a tree after such tasks remains a sweet memory for the family.

Frank was a novice water skier in his day. He liked boating, lakes, Ocean City, and Perry Hall teen center. Gwynn Oak and Hershey Park were special to him, and he really liked the rides. Father and son shared many fun adventures on horseback. He was a champion crabber too, taking on the slippery inlet boulders to grab at a lone crab for his son, to his family's delight.

Frank was always coming up with creative ideas to start small businesses. He loved getting the details together and conferring with his son about inventions and how to proceed with projects. Father and son enjoyed talking about their jobs and the news, spending long hours analyzing such. Frank is remembered as a very wise, kind and generous man. He loved to give surprise presents to unsuspecting individuals. He always made himself available to help family reach solutions to life issues, and his consultations were free.

Frank was predeceased by his parents Franklin Wimmer Sr. and Bonnie Dykes Wimmer of Parkville, Maryland; by his two brothers Ed and Ron of Kingsport, Tennessee; by his parents-in-law John D. Wiechert and Evelyn Davis Wiechert of Forest Hill, Maryland.

Frank is survived by his devoted spouse of 55 years Deborah Wiechert Wimmer; son Brian John Wimmer and wife Kate Wimmer of California; brother Roger Wimmer and nephew Cody of Tennessee;  paternal aunt Helen Wimmer Albrecht of Maryland; brother-in-law J. David Wiechert and wife Luanne Wiechert of Pennsylvania; niece Stephanie Wiechert Schneider, husband David Schneider, and great niece Emily of Maryland; nephew Matthew Wiechert and late wife Heather Marie Wiechert, great nephew Brenner and great niece Auden of Maryland.

During his illnesses and long battle with cancer, specialized professional care and many kindnesses were extended to Frank and to his family: by WellSpan VNA Nurses Brooke, Megan and Stephanie; by the WellSpan AIM team, Dr. Varahrami, CRNPs Jess, Kristin and Jan, and Social Workers; by Father Mark of SJB Catholic Church in New Freedom; and especially by Frank's Crosswind friends and neighbors.

The family extends special appreciation to the nurses, office staff and clinicians of the York WellSpan Health Visiting Nurse Association VNA, Advanced Illness Management program AIM, York Hospital Emergency Room doctors and clinical teams; WellSpan physicians Dr. Korgaonkar, Dr. Goldfarb, Dr. Azubike, Dr. E. Maxwell; the York VA Clinic staff, Nurse Gaye, Dr. Helms, Dr. Post; Lebanon VA Medical Center Palliative Care team, Dr. Causak, the Nurses, Community Care; the York AMEDISYS Hospice staff, Nurse Amber, Nurse Care Manager Marilyn, Dr. Barr; Penn Medicine Philadelphia Dr. Marmarelis; the Green Team office staff, lab staff, Oncology nurses, CRNPs, Dr. Kerr of the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute.

The Prayer of St. Francis reads, "Oh, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love." Frank lived by this prayer and gave so much of himself in life - consoling, understanding, loving - He rests now in peace with Our Lord. ❤️