Frank was born in Oklahoma City, to Frank W. Woolley and Marie Reichhuber Woolley. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Marguerite Kelley and brothers, Carl Woolley, Edward Woolley, and Harold Wayne Woolley; and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife, Joan Holcomb Woolley, sons Kevin Blake Woolley, Derek Woolley and wife Alinne, and daughter, Gayle Morgan and husband Matt; grandsons, Damian Noland, Drake Morgan, and Anthony Woolley, and granddaughters, Michelle Woolley and Emily Woolley; numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
Frank lived in Oklahoma City until after his mother died when he was a young teenager. His father worked long hours, and one day, after getting in trouble at school, he left a note that he was going to California to live with his sister, Marguerite, and her family. They lived in Pomona and went to school with his nephew, Darrell, who was a few months older than Frank. Marguerite insisted that Darrell and his younger sister, Carolynn Sue, call him Uncle Frankie. That became the name he was know by at school and in the neighborhood.
Frank joined the Coast Guard and was stationed mostly in the Boston area during the Korean war. He spent months at sea in a Coast Guard cutter and then was stationed in a light house, where his main job was to keep the light bright at all times.
After his return to Oklahoma he married Jackie Blake and became the father of Kevin, the oldest of his three children. His second marriage to Joan Holcomb lasted 54 years until his death. They have two children, Derek and Gayle, who have given them 5 grandchildren, Damian Noland, Drake Morgan, Anthony Woolley, Michelle Woolley, and Emily Woolley.
His work started when he worked for the Pipefitters Union, until he took a job with Folding Carrier. When Western Electric, which eventually changed it’s name to Lucent Technologies, came to Oklahoma City he worked there until he retired in 1997.
Frank enjoyed boating, water skiing, and traveling with his wife and family, usually in their motor home. One of the highlights of his travels was a trip in 2000 to the Holy Land, Israel and to Greece, where they visited the Island of Patmos.
Frank and Joan were married in Olivet Baptist Church, where they met, and later became members of Portland Avenue Baptist Church.
After Frank and Joan retired they began volunteering with the Baptist Disaster Relief, working with the feeding team. He said often that it was the most rewarding work he had done.
Leave a Condolence