Frank Oliver Meeker, Jr.
Frank O. Meeker, Jr., 94, of Springfield, MO, a resident of Salinas, CA for most of his life, passed away Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 at Maranatha Village, a retirement community in Springfield, MO.
He was born Feb. 20, 1915 in Salinas at the family home on California Street, the third of five children born to Frank and Maude Mae (Weaver) Meeker. He graduated Salinas Union High School in 1933 and was on the CA State championship handball team that year. He also attended Hartnell College. A defining event in his life occurred at age 18 when he became a Christian at a tent revival being held in town. He later became a faithful and active member of Calvary Assembly of God church throughout his years in Salinas.
Frank served proudly and honorably for 35 years in military service to his country and the State of CA. From Nov. 1938 to Sep. 1940 he was a member of Company C, 194th Tank Battalion of the CA National Guard based in Salinas. He was discharged prior to Company C being called to Federal active duty, where it served valiantly in the defense of The Philippines at Bataan.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Jan. 1941 and was discharged in Mar. 1946 as a First Lieutenant. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater in the Fiji Islands, The Philippines, and Japan. After WWII he rejoined the CA National Guard in 1947 as a full-time administrator in the Salinas unit, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 149th Armor, where he served until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1975. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the CA Medal of Merit for his distinguished service.
While stationed in TX during WWII, he met and later married his loving wife and life companion, Mildred Marie Conrad. They had two sons, Tommy O. and David C. Meeker.
Survivors: Sons Tommy (Carol) Meeker, of Marco Island, FL, and David (Vikki) Meeker of Beaumont, CA; sister Inez Olson of Vacaville; brother Kenneth Meeker of Concord; grandchildren Dawn Meeker, Evan Meeker, Kimberly Pace, Jessica Courter, Joshua Handley, and Jennifer Handley Cumstay; great-grandchildren Danielle Pace, Carleigh Pace, Darien Courter, and Torunn Courter; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mildred Conrad Meeker; sisters Viola Myers and Esther Schmidt; and great-granddaughter Allison Joy Pace.
A Memorial Service was held at the Maranatha Village Chapel on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 with burial following at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery with military honors.
Arrangements by Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield, MO; http://www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com