Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 at 05:59:50 :
San Francisco Chronicle
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002
A-17
TREADWAY, Frank L. - October 14, 1908 to October 18, 2002 Tread as he is affectionately known by his many friends, passed away in his home on October 18, 2002 just a few days after his 94th birthday. He had a heart condition for more than 30 years and he died quietly in peace. He was often seen walking downtown in San Anselmo where he had lunch everyday. Tread was a Southern Gentleman whose values of Friendship, Love and Truth were bestowed on all who knew him. He was kind and generous. His was a life of service to his country and his family. Tread was born in the small rural town of Paragould, Arkansas in 1908. During his life he saw amazing technological changes. He was able to play a significant role along the way with his interest in radio, radar, communications, the atomic clock and the space program. Tread joined the army early in the war and attended Officer's training in the Signal Corps. He was ordered to the Presidio, San Francisco in 1942 with his wife Virginia and his son Frank, Jr. Tread continued his 6th Army duties until the end of the war in 1945 and then was in the Active Reserve until he retired as Lt. Col. in 1963. He went to work as a civilian for the U.S. Navy heading up the Military Sea Transportation Service electronic engineering division, Ft. Mason. This work brought him into new science projects and he and his group of engineers worked with great success. He was Logistics Officer for the Defense Early Warning System and he received commendations from the Sec. Of the Navy, and Presidential citations for his work on the Apollo project and other space programs. He was a true survivor who had smallpox as a child, lived through the influenza pandemic, got Typhus fever on a British Destroyer, lost a kidney, had three heart attacks and went through crash landings twice in Military airplanes, once flying under the Golden Gate Bridge to Alameda with one smoking engine left. He was calm and confident in perilous situations and his leadership helped others in times of crisis. He always thought of others first and would make any sacrifice for the good of his country. Tread was active in many organizations during his life and held offices in the Lions Club, Masons, Odd Fellows Morse Lodge, S.F. Garden Club, S.F. Lawn Bowling Club and he was a frequent winner in the Forty Niner Poker Club, a social group he inspired. He was terribly bereft at the loss of his wife, Virginia, after more than 50 wonderful years of marriage. They met on St. Valentine's Day at John Brown College and were the King and Queen of Hearts falling in love immediately marrying in 1930. They had one child, Frank Treadway, Jr. Virginia died suddenly in 1981. In 1983 Tread remarried Justine Cerruti and had seven years of joy with her until she passed in 1990. He was a stepfather to Justine's children Antoinette Calbreath, Anthony and Guido Cerruti. Tread moved from San Francisco to live in San Anselmo, Marin, to be close to his only son, Frank, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Lidija Treadway who loved him greatly and made his last ten years happy ones. Tread has three grandchildren, Shaun, Braddock and Stephany Treadway. There are two great grandchildren, Max and Gloria. Lidija's sons, Andrew and Philip Potter saw him as their grandfather and he enjoyed their company. Tread was a wonderful grandfather and could recount many stories about the grandchildren with pleasure. All of us will miss him. He left a strong impression of how to live a life of solid value with Friendship, Love And Truth. Private family service. Halsted N. Gray - Carew & English
|
powered by SpudBoard |