Frank W. Jennings Obituary
Frank W. Jennings, Jr., Professional Engineer was born on July 14, 1940 in Ilion, the son of the late Frank W. and Helen Goodman Jennings and was a graduate of Ilion High School. After high school, Frank continued his education, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics at Utica College. He immediately entered the United States Air Force and attended Air Force Officer Training School (Class 62-G), being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in May of 1962.
He was then assigned to Pennsylvania State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Upon receiving that degree, he was reassigned to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana to provide weather forecast services to the Strategic Air Command. Frank served his country during the Vietnam War with the Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant at the Barksdale Forecast Center, providing weather forecast services to one-third of the Strategic Air Command in the United States.
Barksdale was the first base to send B-52 bombers to Guam during the Vietnam Conflict. After early release from the Air Force in June 1965, Frank returned to school at the Georgia Institute of Technology, receiving a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree. He then worked for approximately 1 year for the Lane Construction Corporation.
Frank then began an approximately 30 year career with the New York State Department of Transportation. During his 30 year career, Frank worked on many road and bridge projects including supervision of the New York State Canal System from early 1977 to early 1997 until that unit's transfer to the New York State Thruway Authority.
Upon retirement, Frank served as the Town of German Flatts Codes Enforcer, acting Village Engineer in Ilion, Engineering Consultant for the Ilion Water Commission, operated Hilltop Orchards for over 30 years, and currently Hilltop Orchards LLC- Property Management. He rebuilt the Canadarago Lake Boat Launch and over five miles of Route 28 from Richfield Springs to Schuyler Lake Village.
He thoroughly enjoyed being Resident Engineer on the thruway interchange bridge replacement at Westmorland and the two years spent doing State Mandated Grabler Law bridge inspections. As a young man, Frank worked for the Herkimer Bowling Center for over 8 years as a mechanic on automatic pinsetters during high school and college, and thoroughly enjoyed the sport of bowling.
He was a member of the Church of the Annunciation, Ilion and the Mohawk Valley Towns Board Association Board of Directors from Spring 1991 to Spring 1992. Frank enjoyed working on the 3 million dollar renovation of the Rome Justice Center. On October 4, 1975, Frank was united in marriage with Thomasine M. Zieno at St. John the Baptist church in Rome, NY.
Frank is survived by his wife; his son, Assistant Professor Thomas Michael, and his wife, Jackie Jennings, of Rome; his daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Jennings, D.O., and her husband, Dr. Thomas Dispenza, M.D., of Hummelstown, PA; five grandchildren; and Frank's brother-in-law, Dr. Salvatore Zieno, M.D., of Bellevue, NE. In keeping with Frank's wishes, there will be no public calling hours, immediate cremation has been held, and a memorial celebration of life mass to be held at the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 10:30 A.M. with Father Paul Catena officiating.
Frank's ashes will be interred per his final wishes at Calvary Cemetery in Herkimer next to his mother. Arrangements are with the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home, 100 Otsego Street, Ilion. Memorial gifts may be made to the Ilion Free Public Library Foundation. Envelopes are available at Whiter-Hendrix or the Library.
