Charles John Frankenbach, known as “Charlie,” died on April 19, 2018, at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care on Quiogue. He was 90.
Born on August 2, 1927, to Charles and Isaura Frankenbach, he grew up in Southampton. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving on the USS Yorktown. After the Navy, he went to school in New York City and became a licensed electrician.
Mr. Frankenbach met Barbara, the woman who would become his wife, when she visited during the summers in Southampton, and they were married on January 19, 1952 in Delmar, New York. He worked for the Long Island Lighting Company for 21 years. During that time, he was a member of the North Sea Fire Department, and he also went back to college at night and earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree. He taught history at Eastport Schools for 20 years before retiring at age 62. During the summers he helped his wife teach swimming lessons at various pools in the Southampton area, and he also turned his passion for landscaping into part time work. He loved tending his rose bushes, some of which won prizes.
Following retirement, he and his wife moved to the Wilmington, North Carolina, area for 25 years and then lived in Sun City, Hilton Head, South Carolina for five years. They always returned to Southampton for the summers to spend time with family and friends. Mr. Frankenbach enjoyed playing golf, tennis, and working out regularly. He loved to dance, especially the jitterbug, travel, and read history books. He also was an avid New York Giants and Yankees fan.
Mr. Frankenbach was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Glick Frankenbach, to whom he was married for 64 years; and his sister, Isaura “Bubby” Marshall and husband Ernest of Southampton.
He is survived by three children, Charles “Chuck” Frankenbach of Southampton, Barbara Patton and husband Fred of Colorado, and Steven Frankenbach of Southampton; seven grandchildren, Steven Frankenbach and wife Michele of Southampton, Chris Patton and wife Rachael of Colorado, Scott Frankenbach of Southampton, Katie Graham of Southampton, Peter Frankenbach and girlfriend Rachael Zofcin of Florida, Brianna Patton and boyfriend Arden Dennis of Colorado, and Savannah Frankenbach of Southampton; and two great-grandchildren, Amiyah Dismuke and Quincy Dennis of Colorado. He is also survived by his sister, May Griffin and husband Don of Westhampton Beach, and their four children and families; his nephew, Jeff Marshall; and many relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 21, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, with coffee and light refreshments served in the church parlor immediately after. Interment will be at Southampton Cemetery, with a dinner reception following at the North Sea Firehouse at 6 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 2 South Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968, or to the Kanas Center for Hospice Care, 1 Meeting House Road, Quiogue, NY 11978.