Loss of A Dear Member

Although he had been absent recently because of his poor health, we are saddened to report the loss of one of our regular members who had a strong guiding hand in our post, Frank Filling. Frank was a good man and dear friend of the VFW, as well as a successful local businessman who was very active in the community. We lost his brother Bill a little over a year ago, and now Frank has followed his brother to rest. From his obituary at LancasterOnline.com:

Frank Filling
Frank Filling

Frank F. Filling, Jr., 94, of Landis Homes, formerly of Lancaster, passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2012 surrounded by family. Born in Millersville, he was the son of the late Frank F. and Kathryn (Taylor) Filling.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel “Mae” (Hassis) Filling in 1999.

He was the retired President of Filling’s, Inc., Dry-cleaning, Mens and Ladies Stores. He retired in 1987 after 53 years with the Filling Corp.

Frank served as president of the Central PA Drycleaners Guild and the PA Association of Professional Dry Cleaners. He was elected to the International Institute of Dry-cleaning Board of Directors and was instrumental in the formation of the International Fabricare Association with headquarters and school in Maryland.

In 1970, Frank received the coveted “Keystone Award” in recognition of the outstanding civic and industry achievements in PA.

Frank was very proud of the article written in the Wall Street Journal on the front page titled, “The Venturers Frank Filling’s Financing of a Small Business in a Recession,” an article about small businesses dealing with banks.

He was a charter member of the Lancaster Sertoma Club. He served as president in 1956 and was governor of Sertoma International 1957-1959. Frank was the first member to receive the Sertoman of the Year Award in 1983. He served as chairman of Sertoma’s Chicken Barbecue in 1961, the year it made it to The Guiness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Chicken Barbecue. He also holds the Club record of 54 years of consecutive perfect attendance.

He was a member of the Charles M. Howell #496 Masonic Temple.

Frank served his country in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during WWII and received the secretary of War Meritorious Service Award for saving crew members from a burning plane.

He was a charter member of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, served on Church Council, and was Chairman of the first church building program.

He organized the Lancaster Central PA “Better Business Bureau” and served as Chairman of the Board of Managers from 1978-1980. He served on the Board of the following organizations, Lancaster Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Longs Park Amphitheater Foundation, Millersville Meals on Wheels, and The “Gate House” Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation in Mountville for Women and in Lititz for Men. He was affiliated with “SCORE” (Service Corps of Retired Executives), the Small Business Administration as Chairman in 1992 and won a citation as one of the best chapters in the USA. He was selected as a member of “SCORES’s” National “Counselor Development Program” and awarded “SCORE’s” Platinum Achievement Award for Counseling Achievements in 1995. He also served on the Millersville VFW Post 7294 Board of Directors.

Frank was an avid skier and served as President of the Roundtop 60 plus Ski Club.

Surviving, a son, Frank F. Filling III, of Rock Hall, MD, a daughter, Susan L. Arnold, wife of Craig E., of Lancaster, three grandchildren, Tom, Andrew, and Doug, two sisters, Mary Klemmer, of Mountville, Kay Straley, of Ronks, two brothers, Richard Filling, husband of Barbara, of Lititz, James Filling, husband of Linda, of Lititz and a sister-in-law, Kitty Filling, of Millersville. He was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Echterling, and two brothers, Albert and Jay William Filling.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Service on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 11AM at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 3131 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603 with The Rev. Burton J. Parry officiating. Viewings will be held on Wednesday from 7-9PM in the Chapel at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, and again at the church on Thursday from 10-11AM. Interment will be held in Millersville Mennonite Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Frank’s memory to Holy Spirit Lutheran Church or the Millersville VFW Post 7294, 219 Walnut Hill Rd., Millersville, PA 17551.

Our thoughts are with his family members. Frank was a good man and will be dearly missed.