Frank Joseph Kaiser, 83, of Charleston, WV passed away peacefully July 15, 2016 at Hubbard House Hospice Care.
He was born December 3, 1932. Preceding him in death were his parents, Frank J. and Doris E. (Wilson) Kaiser; his sister, Patricia Ann Kaiser Hughes of Wheeling, WV; and his prior spouses, Bertha Lee Anderson Kaiser and Sharon Kay Walker Kaiser.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Betty Johnston Kaiser of Charleston, WV; his daughters, Elizabeth Gay Kaiser Mason (Kevin) of Jacksonville, FL, and Carol Lee Kaiser Sharkey of St. Peters, MO; sons David Andrew Kaiser (Kerri) of Wellington, FL, John Marshall Kaiser of Dunbar, WV, and John Edward Vitakis of Atlanta, GA; daughter Katherine Elizabeth Kaiser of Alexandria, VA.; grandchildren Andrew Mason (Nichole) of Jacksonville, FL, Marissa Sharkey of Kansas City, MO, Kimberly Mason of Miami, FL, Rachel Kaiser of Wellington, FL, Alison Kaiser and Abbie Kaiser of Dunbar, WV, Ryan Sharkey of St. Peters, MO, Alexander Kaiser of Jacksonville, FL, Leah Carol Sharkey of St. Peters, MO, and Arden Kaiser, Ava Kaiser and Annah Kaiser of Dunbar, WV; and great-granddaughter Violet Rose Mason of Jacksonville, FL; and nieces Ellen Craig (Bill) of Pittsburgh, PA, Linda Villee West (Dick) of Potomac, MD and Kathy Williamson (Ed) of Atlanta, GA.
Frank was a former POW from the Korean War and spent three years in prison camp from 1950 to 1953 and is a Purple Heart recipient, awarded POW medals for Korean Presidential Unit citation, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Defense Service Medal and was very active with the association of the survivors The Chosen Few. Frank was a member of Kanawha Lodge No. 20 A.F. and A.M., Scottish Rite, York Rite, Beni Kedem Shriners and Royal Order of Jesters. He served as a “road runner” for the Shriners, taking children to hospitals in Cincinnati and Lexington.
He attended Catholic Schools in Wheeling, WV and graduated from West Liberty University in 1958 with an accounting degree. He was a terminal manager for Belle Lines Trucking in Wheeling, WV and was transferred to the Charleston terminal with the Bell Lines in the 60s. In 1982, he opened Insurance Design in Charleston, WV, a full-service insurance agency with his partner,m Patty Knight Tate.
Frank was an avid animal lover and his wife never knew what new family member he would bring home. He carried dog bones in his shirt pocket just in case he would find a lost animal who needed a home.
Funeral Service will be held at Noon Monday, July 18th at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home with Rev. Erin Daniels officiating. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Greenwood Cemetery, 1526 National Road, Wheeling, WV.