Memorials › Frank Paul Braden

Frank Paul Braden

16 Oct 1918 – 20 Mar 2012

Birth16 Oct 1918
Death20 Mar 2012
CemeterySaint Anthony Catholic Church Cemetery
Columbus , Colorado County , Texas , USA
Added byDiana Smith on 29 Jun 2014
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103778914

Bio

------------------------- Thanks to D. Smith for this obit: Obituary found at http://www.coloradocountycitizen.com/obituaries/article_8029a5f2-784e-11e1-b399-0019bb2963f4.html. Frank Braden, age 93, was born in Columbus, on Oct. 16, 1918 to Frank Braden and Anna Schobel Braden. He was the eighth son and the last survivor of 10 children. Prior to his death, he was the oldest living grandson of Andreas Braden (a Civil War soldier, drafted into the southern army in 1865). He became ill on March 13, and died on March 20. As often times happened in families, Frank had to quit school in the fifth grade. Even with that minimal of an education, Frank was a great historian and managed to educate himself by reading. During the year of 1941, Frank worked for the highway department in Wharton. He was home for the weekend in Columbus. He and a buddy went to a dance in Frelsburg where he met Martha. Throughout the summer of 1941, he continued to visit with her. In November of that year, he received orders to report to the Army. His last visit with Martha was the December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. Frank was inducted into the Army on Dec. 11, 1941 in Houston. He would not see Martha for another year, but they continued to exchange letters. He was sent to Camp Walters until Jan, 1, 1942. From there he was sent to Camp Roberts in California for 13 weeks of basic training. After basic, he was sent to San Francisco where he was in the 159th infantry regiment, seventh division. More training took place in Camp San Luis Obispo California and Frank was sent to Fort Ord. In March of 1942, Frank's dad became very ill and Frank was granted a 10 day pass to see his dad before he passed away. During that leave, Frank and Martha decided to get married. He had to get back to base, so at some point Martha went to California and lived in a rooming house in Salinas, Calif. until their wedding. He married Martha Schertz in California in the Army chapel. They lived in an apartment and each morning, he would catch a bus to return to camp for his daily roll call. In May of 1943, he received orders to go overseas and then shipped out in a troop transport which remained at sea for 13 days and then reached ship port at Attu Island (the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land. Martha came home to Frelsburg. The 159th infantry guarded the island and fought the Japanese. About 2,300 Japanese were killed. He stayed with that unit until November 1944, where he was transferred to Alaska to join the Army quartermaster. He learned to snow ski and often had to go after supplies in blistery winter. He drove an army bus at Fort Richardson near Anchorage for two weeks. Then he was sent near Mt. McKinley and worked there from December 1944 to late March 1945. From there he was sent to Fort Warren, Wyo. until October 1945 where he received his honorable discharge from the Army. During his tenure in the Army, Frank earned the following medals: pistol marksman, machine gun medal, rifle marksman, good conduct medal, and the Asia Pacific medal. When he returned home, he started the trade of a carpenter and became very proficient in his trade. He spent many hours away from home making a living for his family. Times were hard. In the early 1950s, he had an accident with a saw injuring his left eye causing him to lose sight. During all of this, he managed to build props for school plays, and built tables and benches for the St. Anthony church picnics which used to be held on the school grounds. He retired from Drymalla Construction in his late 60s. At least he thought he would stay retired. However, the word got out that Frank had more time on his hands and started to contact him about some repair jobs. He meticulously made several birdhouses, quilt racks and even sold some of his crafts. One of his bigger feats was the construction of a two story camphouse for friends. His daughter Madelyn was an airline hostess for Braniff which enabled Frank and Martha to take several trips stateside and to Alaska, Mexico City and Germany. He also played a significant role in the creation of the chapel at Columbus Community Hospital. A pew was donated, but was too big for the area, so Frank cut it in half and rode to Houston to a specialty wood shop to find the exact match of wood to put another end on the pew. When Martha went into the nursing home at River Oaks, it was a new experience for Frank. He was not the best cook. However, he learned to bake cookies and pies and everyday that he could, he would visit her with a slice of pie. He would pick pecans in season and shelled them in perfect halves, rarely breaking one. Frank enjoyed an airboat ride courtesy of his grandson, Mike on his 90th birthday along with his sons. He never forgot that day and would periodically talk about it. They took a picture reading The Colorado County Citizen on the river. He also got to take a plane ride over Colorado County courtesy of Kenneth and a friend. When Frank was 91, Crockett Leyendecker contacted the family requesting Frank's expertise about the history of the Colorado River. Crockett knew that Frank would probably be the best historian since he was raised on the river. One of Crockett's friends was writing a book and needed some pertinent information. So Crockett, Frank, Donald and the lady who was writing the book took a ride to the area where a ferry used to cross over on Braden land. He told them about the ferry crossing and how he had to plow that land as a young man and he would have to wear shoes because there was so much broken glass dumped in this area, from china, etc. that would not survive the rough trip. For a young man on the farm in those early years, shoes were not always worn for this type of work. Frank entered Columbus Nursing and Rehabilitation last May and enjoyed playing dominos. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 2971 and VFW Post 6113 and the American Legion Post 383. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Martha; his parents; and all of his siblings. He is survived by his daughter, Madelyn; his sons, Donald and his wife, Carol, and Ken and his wife, Jennifer; four grandchildren, Diana Smith and Chris Maichetti, Phyllis Wavra and husband, Merle, Mike Braden and wife Amanda, and Lauren Braden; and 11 great grandchildren, Meagan, Casey and Allie Smith, Peyton Maichetti, Brandon, Madison and Logan Wavra, Ben, Kade, Cody, and Trace Braden. Also, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral mass was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2012 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus, with Father Augustine Asante and Deacon Bennie Holesovsky officiating. Interment followed in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Columbus. Pallbearers were Michael and Ben Braden, Merle and Brandon Wavra, and Billy and Jerry Schobel. Honorary pallbearers were all of his great grandchildren. Memorials in his memory may be given to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1602 Bowie St., Columbus, TX 78934; VFW Post 6113, P.O. Box 605, Columbus, TX 78934; or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.hennekefuneral.com. He will be missed, but how fortunate we are to have the memories. -------------------------

Photos

Family

Parents

Spouse

Siblings

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family