Frank L. Bever, 101, North Manchester, passed away on August 25, 2022 at Timbercrest Senior Living Center in North Manchester, Indiana. The son of James William and Nellie May (Ply) Bever, Frank was born on April 21, 1921 in Lagro, Indiana. He was baptized at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Lagro, Indiana. Frank was born fourth in a family comprised of seven children. As a child, he enjoyed ice skating on a nearby pond and was quite interested in playing basketball but lived too far from the high school to participate in team sports. Frank graduated in 1939 from Linlawn High School, Wabash, Indiana.
He served as a technical sergeant in the U.S Army 95th Infantry Division, The Iron Men of Metz, in World War II. He was wounded on December 3, 1944 in Saarlautern, Germany and was sent to England to recuperate and later returned to his unit. He served his country from June of 1942 until September of 1945. Frank was in the combat infantry in England, France, Germany, and Belgium. Frank received numerous medals including a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and the French Legion of Honor.
Frank met Olive Leedy through mutual friends. The two were married on April 12, 1947 in the Wabash Church of the Brethren. Frank and Olive would be blessed with five sons.
After his discharge from the service, Frank attended the Milo Bennett Linotype School in English, Indiana on the GI bill. He worked in the printing industry for 30 years in North Manchester and Wabash. He later served as Postmaster at Servia, Indiana from December 1, 1977 until he retired at the age of 79 on April 21, 2000.
The Bever family enjoyed card games, playing basketball, canoeing on the river, and taking many vacations to Michigan and North Carolina. For many years he attended the 95th Army reunions to visit with other men who served with the Iron Men of Metz. He enjoyed family reunions at Indiana State Parks. Frank was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and listened to the games on his transistor radio. His children and grandchildren remembered that he often was the pitcher for their fleeceball games. He was also a member of the West Manchester Church of the Brethren where he served in many positions including the Camp Alexander Mack representative and a church board member. He later was a member of the Eel River Community Church of the Brethren.
Frank L. Bever was a kind, hardworking, dedicated father to his five sons: Jerry (Karen) Bever, Warsaw, Thomas (Ruth Ann) Bever, Fort Wayne, Michael (Diane) Bever, Forest, Dennis Bever, Claypool, and Steven (Michele) Bever, Hastings, NE. He is survived by eleven grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He is survived by his 96-year-old brother, Thomas (Emma) Bever of Wabash. He is preceded in death by his wife, Olive (Leedy), parents, James and Nellie Bever, and four brothers and one sister.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Alexander Mack (campmack.org) and Heifer International (heifer.org). Both organizations were important to Frank and Olive.
McKee Mortuary is entrusted with the care of Frank Bever. Funeral services will be held at Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, Silver Lake, Indiana on September 3, 2022 with visitation from 12-2:00 and service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery North Manchester, Indiana, next to Olive, his wife of 70 years.
Condolences may be emailed to mckeemortuary.com