Frank Bennett Small, intrepid civil engineer
Frank Bennett Small, 90, of Lewes, died Tuesday March 20, 2018, after a brief illness. Frank enjoyed nearly 66 wonderful years married to the love of his life, Virginia (Russell).
Frank was born in Painesville Ohio, Oct. 22, 1927. The son of a Coast Guard officer and a nylon inspector, he moved with his parents and three sisters to Rehoboth Beach in 1939.
Frank enjoyed an interesting and fulfilling life. On Dec. 28, 1942, Frank and his friends were on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth when an Army Air Corps plane crashed just off the coast. They swam to the crash site, and were able to successfully rescue the pilot and the navigator. For his act of valor, Frank received Scouting's highest honor: Lifesaving honor metal.
After graduating from Rehoboth High School in 1945, Frank made a slight adjustment to his date of birth, instantly becoming seven months older and enlisting in the Marine Corps. After stops in Guam and Saipan, and as the war effort came to an end, Frank was given an honorable discharge in late 1946.
After the war, Frank began what turned out to be a long career in civil engineering, marine construction. He went to work for his mentor and brother-in-law Dal Myers. Frank later enrolled at Temple University to study civil engineering on the GI bill. After completing his studies there, he was recruited by the Army Corp of Engineers and sent to Officers Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Va. It was during this period that he met the love of his life, the former Virginia Russell.
Married March 29, 1952, the two love birds returned to Sussex County, setting up shop on New Road in Lewes on the Russell Farm.
Frank worked on projects big and small. From the I-95 viaduct in Philadelphia, to the marina at the University of Delaware in Lewes, dredging Herring Creek to create additional space for Rehoboth Beach Country Club, a reservoir in Barrow, Alaska, an aquifer in Rose Hall, Jamaica, to name just a few.
Frank stayed busy with a multitude of activities. He was a Scout leader with Troop 1, manager of the Lewes Little League Phillies, a volunteer with Lewes Presbyterian Church and a long time Meals on Wheels volunteer. An avid gardener and handyman, he always had active projects around the homestead. He loved to play golf, and even obtained his pilot’s license.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Laurie Reese (Andy) of Salisbury, Md., and sons Steve (Colleen) and Russell (Kim) of Lewes; grandchildren Amber Brown (Travis), Samuel Russell (Danielle), Mason Small (Kristyn) and Conor Small. Frank also asked us to call out the great-grandkids he found so much joy in spending time with: McKenzie Russell, Grady Brown and Garrett Brown.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, April 29, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Woods Edge Social Center, 34186 Woods Edge Drive, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Frank's name to the Brain Injury Association of Delaware, P.O. Box 1897, Dover, DE 19904.
Please visit Frank's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
