In Memory Of
Frank S. Tatum
1932
2021
Frank S. Tatum
August 6, 1932 — April 27, 2021
Frank Staley Tatum, age 88 of Fairborn, passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2021 surrounded by the love of his family at his home. He was born August 6, 1932 in Stuart, Virginia the son of the late Walter Lee and Lois Tatum.
Left to cherish Frank's memory are his wife of 41 years, Margalene "Ethel" Tatum; daughters: Valerie (Jeff) Howard Greer, Belinda (Jerry) Asbury Sr.; son: William "Bill" (Bernice) Beakler; grandchildren: Michael, Chelsea, Alexander, Sydney, Hope, Holly, William, Evan, Sophia, Jerry Jr., Jeanette, Jenna, Jordin, Ashley, Aubrey'Ona, and Hannah; numerous great-grandchildren; sister, Alice Price; brothers: Daniel (Audrey) Tatum, and Wayne (Linda) Tatum, and sister-in-law, Midge; many nieces and nephews, and several other family members and friends.
Frank served his country as an engineer in the Army during the Korean War. After honorably leaving the service, he was employed by Bendix as an electronics systems engineer. In a joint project between NASA and the DoD, Frank was instrumental in modifying the Boeing C-135 Strotolifter cargo aircraft into Apollo/Range Instrumentation Aircraft (A/RIA) with a steerable seven-foot antenna dish in its distinctive "Snoopy Nose". The ARIA aircraft, based at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida was used to track the Apollo rocket launches making Frank's work a critical element to putting a man on the moon during the 60s and early 70's. The ARIA fleet was transferred to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in December 1975 where Frank and his team underwent numerous conversions on the ARIA. He continued to maintain the fleet until he retired from Bendix in 1994 after 37 years of dedicated service. The ARIA "Snoopy Nose" is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.
After retiring from Bendix, he worked at Ace Hardware in Fairborn. Frank enjoyed a number of hobbies, including woodworking, coin collecting, repairing TVs, reading, and working on cars, and visiting the Air Force Museum with his grandchildren. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frank was a kind, soft-spoken, gentle soul. He was a friend to everyone and he loved his family to the moon and back.
In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his sons: Rodney Beakler, and Robert S. Beakler III; twin brothers, Coy and Roy Tatum; brother-in-law, Lawrence Price.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at Agape Family Worship Center (4111 Mapleview Dr., Beavercreek, Ohio 45432). A funeral service will immediately follow at the church at 11:30 am, with Pastor Mark McVey officiating. Burial will take place at Fairfield Cemetery in Fairborn.
To leave a message of condolence for Frank's family, or to share a special memory, please click on the Share Memories button above
Left to cherish Frank's memory are his wife of 41 years, Margalene "Ethel" Tatum; daughters: Valerie (Jeff) Howard Greer, Belinda (Jerry) Asbury Sr.; son: William "Bill" (Bernice) Beakler; grandchildren: Michael, Chelsea, Alexander, Sydney, Hope, Holly, William, Evan, Sophia, Jerry Jr., Jeanette, Jenna, Jordin, Ashley, Aubrey'Ona, and Hannah; numerous great-grandchildren; sister, Alice Price; brothers: Daniel (Audrey) Tatum, and Wayne (Linda) Tatum, and sister-in-law, Midge; many nieces and nephews, and several other family members and friends.
Frank served his country as an engineer in the Army during the Korean War. After honorably leaving the service, he was employed by Bendix as an electronics systems engineer. In a joint project between NASA and the DoD, Frank was instrumental in modifying the Boeing C-135 Strotolifter cargo aircraft into Apollo/Range Instrumentation Aircraft (A/RIA) with a steerable seven-foot antenna dish in its distinctive "Snoopy Nose". The ARIA aircraft, based at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida was used to track the Apollo rocket launches making Frank's work a critical element to putting a man on the moon during the 60s and early 70's. The ARIA fleet was transferred to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in December 1975 where Frank and his team underwent numerous conversions on the ARIA. He continued to maintain the fleet until he retired from Bendix in 1994 after 37 years of dedicated service. The ARIA "Snoopy Nose" is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.
After retiring from Bendix, he worked at Ace Hardware in Fairborn. Frank enjoyed a number of hobbies, including woodworking, coin collecting, repairing TVs, reading, and working on cars, and visiting the Air Force Museum with his grandchildren. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frank was a kind, soft-spoken, gentle soul. He was a friend to everyone and he loved his family to the moon and back.
In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his sons: Rodney Beakler, and Robert S. Beakler III; twin brothers, Coy and Roy Tatum; brother-in-law, Lawrence Price.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at Agape Family Worship Center (4111 Mapleview Dr., Beavercreek, Ohio 45432). A funeral service will immediately follow at the church at 11:30 am, with Pastor Mark McVey officiating. Burial will take place at Fairfield Cemetery in Fairborn.
To leave a message of condolence for Frank's family, or to share a special memory, please click on the Share Memories button above
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frank S. Tatum, please visit our flower store.
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