Charles William Frank passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Cedarhurst of Jacksonville (Illinois).

He was born February 12, 1943 and was preceded in death by a sister, Marjorie Deirdre, his parents, Charles Edward and Dorothy Berry Frank, his adoptive parents Joe Patterson and Alma Churchill Smith, his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Strawbridge, and his life partner of the last 15 years, Carole Hack. He is survived by brothers Geoff and David, sisters Connie and Barbara, adoptive son Nic, Carole's family, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends in Jacksonville and beyond.

Charley grew up in Jacksonville apart from a year in Trenton, New Jersey and one in Reno, Nevada with his family. He began his interests in electronics at BESCO, mowed lawns, and was an acolyte at Trinity Episcopal Church, graduating from Jacksonville High School in 1961. Charley left Illinois for Haverford College, his father's alma mater, in Pennsylvania. While there he worked for the blind physics professor and ham radio operator, Tom Benham, who founded the non-profit foundation Science for the Blind. Benham was working on adaptive electronic technologies for the blind and Charley was hooked. He worked with Benham to design machines to produce multiple voice recordings of current articles in science journals and technical texts for people who were visually impaired. When Benham's lab was being relocated, Charley helped with the move to ensure that every tool would be in exactly the same configuration. Charley graduated from Haverford in 1966 with a BA degree in languages, which served him well when shortly thereafter he was drafted into the Army. His language ability and his typing skills landed him in Germany where he attained the rank of Specialist 5th class. After his discharge, Charley returned to Philadelphia and resumed design and electrical work with Benham. He also began working as a television and stereo repair technician doing what he loved, tinkering with electronics.

Through Benham, Charley met Betty Strawbridge and they were married in 1970 at her family estate in Wynnewood, PA. She passed away a few years later. After the death of his father-in-law, Charley moved in with his mother-in-law Emily Strawbridge (affectionately known as Muz) and a succession of beloved sheep dogs that required constant attention. They would load up his Dodge Ram truck and travel with the dogs across the country to see the America's Cup race in San Diego, or across Canada to Alaska, or to Thanksgiving celebrations at the family farm in upstate New York.

In 2002, Charley moved back to Jacksonville to care for his ailing mother. When she passed, he continued to support many of her passions, including Trinity Episcopal Church, Illinois College, the Art Association, the League of Women Voters, the American Friends Service Committee, and the local chapter of the NAACP, among others. He was a great lover of music and had wired the family home on Park Street so that he could move about and hear music at the same volume in nearly every room. In 2007 as part of a fundraiser for the Jacksonville Symphony, Charley won the title of Super Conductor in a hard-fought competition with Keith Bradbury and Wally Jamison.

Charley was a gifted storyteller, a generous caregiver and companion, a terrible housekeeper, and a pack rat who never threw anything away. He loved to entertain aided by friends and helpers. For many years he hosted a New Year's Day open house at the family home to which as many as a hundred people came. He and Carole became part of the Cedarhurst Assisted Living community in 2021. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held 12:00pm Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Trinity Episcopal Church with burial at Diamond Grove Cemetery. The family will meet friends from 11:00AM to 12:00PM prior to the service at the church. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is assisting the family.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Jacksonville Symphony, Trinity Episcopal Church, Illinois College, or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

https://www.michaeljfox.org