1919
Frank
2010
Frank Bolen
June 16, 1919 — March 6, 2010
Frank S. Bolen, age 90, died Saturday March 6, 2010. Services will be held Sunday March 14, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Reverend Lee Tate officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral from 3-5 p.m. Saturday March 13, 2010.
Survivors include his wife, Frances LaGrone Bolen, daughters, Linda Lee MaKay (David) of Vienna, VA, Anne K. Lemmon of Gonzales, LA; 2 grandchildren and brother, Bill O. Bolen of Birmingham.
Pallbearers will be Donnie Coffee, James Hines, Harold Speir, Jim Smith, Joe Bolen, Bill Colen Jr. and Ralph Derryberry. Honorary pallbearers will be members of The Maverick Sunday School Class and Larry Lewis.
Mr. Bolen was born June 16, 1919 in Tuscaloosa, AL to the late J. Ben Bolen and Roberta Huggins. He was a lifelong resident of Selma and was well known in the community. He became employed with R.L. Zeigler Co. in the 1950���s and retired in the 1990���s after becoming office manager. Frank S. Bolen was a highly decorated Army Air Corps officer in World Was II, 1942-1945. Frank served heroically with the 91st Bomb Group, 322nd Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force stationed in Basingbourn, England. As a B-17 bombardier he flew 16 missions over the hostile skies of France and Germany. Shot down over Ludswigshaven, Germany, on September 8, 1944, Frank and navigator Brazones were the only survivors of the ill-fated ���Roxy Special.��� Hampered by a broken ankle, he eluded the Germans for seven days before being picked up and incarcerated at Barth, Germany, Stalag Luft I, North Compound II. On the day he was captured, the Bolen���s first child born, a fact he wouldn���t learn until February 1945. He was a prisoner of war for 9 months before being liberated by the Russians in May, 1945.
Frank also served a tour in Korea as an officer with the 1st Calvary Division 1951-1952. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, serving in many different leadership positions. He was also involved in various civic and community organizations, including West Central Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and the Dallas County Chapter for Crippled Children and Adults. He served as chairman of the board of directors for each of these groups. His favorite pastime was golf.
A humble man of deep faith, Frank was a steadfast patriot and an unapologetic flag waver. His love of God, family and country sustained him through war and peace. R.I.P., freedom warrior and great American Hero
Survivors include his wife, Frances LaGrone Bolen, daughters, Linda Lee MaKay (David) of Vienna, VA, Anne K. Lemmon of Gonzales, LA; 2 grandchildren and brother, Bill O. Bolen of Birmingham.
Pallbearers will be Donnie Coffee, James Hines, Harold Speir, Jim Smith, Joe Bolen, Bill Colen Jr. and Ralph Derryberry. Honorary pallbearers will be members of The Maverick Sunday School Class and Larry Lewis.
Mr. Bolen was born June 16, 1919 in Tuscaloosa, AL to the late J. Ben Bolen and Roberta Huggins. He was a lifelong resident of Selma and was well known in the community. He became employed with R.L. Zeigler Co. in the 1950���s and retired in the 1990���s after becoming office manager. Frank S. Bolen was a highly decorated Army Air Corps officer in World Was II, 1942-1945. Frank served heroically with the 91st Bomb Group, 322nd Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force stationed in Basingbourn, England. As a B-17 bombardier he flew 16 missions over the hostile skies of France and Germany. Shot down over Ludswigshaven, Germany, on September 8, 1944, Frank and navigator Brazones were the only survivors of the ill-fated ���Roxy Special.��� Hampered by a broken ankle, he eluded the Germans for seven days before being picked up and incarcerated at Barth, Germany, Stalag Luft I, North Compound II. On the day he was captured, the Bolen���s first child born, a fact he wouldn���t learn until February 1945. He was a prisoner of war for 9 months before being liberated by the Russians in May, 1945.
Frank also served a tour in Korea as an officer with the 1st Calvary Division 1951-1952. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, serving in many different leadership positions. He was also involved in various civic and community organizations, including West Central Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and the Dallas County Chapter for Crippled Children and Adults. He served as chairman of the board of directors for each of these groups. His favorite pastime was golf.
A humble man of deep faith, Frank was a steadfast patriot and an unapologetic flag waver. His love of God, family and country sustained him through war and peace. R.I.P., freedom warrior and great American Hero
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