Eldred Frank Harrelson: West Chester, Pa.
1940 – 2024
Eldred went by his middle name, Frank.
Frank spent his early childhood in Loris but by the time he was a teenager, the family had moved to Mt. Pleasant, just to the north of Charleston. Frank recalled many happy late childhood memories in Loris and Charleston, including fishing in Charleston’s Colonial Lake. Frank excelled in high school and earned a scholarship to college.
He attended college at Auburn University, earning his Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics. While in college he became enrolled in the college ROTC and proudly served in the United States Navy for ten years. His service included his time in the ROTC, active duty from 1962-1964, and the Navy Reserves. Also, during his time in the Navy, he was stationed on an aircraft carrier, the USS Shangri-La, and various other naval ships, including the USS Forrestal and USS Raleigh.
After graduating from Auburn, Frank attended Clemson University, where he earned his Master’s of Science in Industrial Management. During his time at Clemson, Frank’s good friends Russell and Betty Brengelman introduced him to their friend, Sandra Smith (Sandy). Frank and Sandy were smitten and married on July 2, 1966, in Atlanta, Georgia, and first lived in Marietta, Georgia as newlyweds. They soon moved to Laurel and then Columbia, Maryland where Frank worked as a senior engineer for Westinghouse. During this time, they had two children, Frances (Fran) and Elizabeth (Liz).
Then the family moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey while the children were young as Frank had accepted a position as a regional manager with the Department of Health and Human Services. He spent most of his career life at the department’s Philadelphia office located at 36th and Market Streets. His job as regional manager involved evaluating how hospitals were using federal funds in six states. He was responsible for DHHS and HUD loan guarantees to acute care hospitals and other health facilities.
During their time in New Jersey, Frank and Sandy had another child, Amy. Once their children were grown and Frank retired, Frank and Sandy moved to Raphine, Virginia in 1996 with Liz to be closer to Sandy’s mother, Frances, who was living in Charlottesville at the time.
Frank and Sandy operated a Bed and Breakfast, Oak Springs Farm, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and where they hosted guests from around the world.
After about five years in Raphine, Frank and Sandy moved to Buena Vista, Virginia and operated a more low-key homestay style Bed and Breakfast. In 2011, Frank and Sandy decided to venture out to Yellowstone National Park to work after having visited the park on a family cross country road trip in 1980. Frank worked as the host of the restaurant at the Old Faithful Inn for six months.
Frank and Sandy took the very southern route home in a fully loaded Toyota Prius passing through Auburn, Alabama, where Frank had attended college. They decided to move to Auburn with Liz, which Frank enjoyed very much, but ultimately moved in 2019 with Liz to Hershey’s Mill, a 55 and over community in West Chester, Pennsylvania, to be closer to their daughter Fran, and son in law, Craig, who live in Southern New Jersey.
Frank was moved into the Memory Care section of Merrill Gardens of West Chester in January 2024, where his daughter, Liz, works. He spent his remaining days there, where he eventually passed away in his sleep, early in the morning of Nov. 3.
Frank enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life, including talking to everyone he encountered, cooking, games, sports, genealogy, camping, bicycling, traveling, and photography. He was fortunate to have traveled to many places around the world and has an extensive collection of photographs from all of the beautiful places he visited.
Often Frank would have various side businesses going on and at one point was a stained-glass artist and kaleidoscope maker. He was also very interested in writing and wrote a novel. The book, Twisted Fate, published in 2018, is a historical fiction novel loosely based on his French Huguenot ancestors who ultimately immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina in the late 1600’s.
Frank was a member of the French Huguenot Society in Charleston, Grove United Methodist Church in West Chester, First Families of South Carolina, and SAR (Sons of the American Revolution).
Frank was pre-deceased by his father, William; his mother, Minta Glee; brothers and sisters William (Bill), Frances and brother-in-law, Daniel (Danny) Walker, Jack and sister-in-law Geraldine (Gerry), and Robert.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sandra (Sandy); his children, Frances (Fran) and son-in-law Craig Dombrosky, Elizabeth (Liz), and Amy; as well as his grandchild Melvin Cathelin, Amy’s son. He is also survived by a few generations of cousins and nephews and nieces. Frank has had several pets throughout his life and now also leaves behind his beloved cat, Peter.
Visitation and service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Hardwick’s Funeral Home in Loris. Burial followed at nearby Patterson Cemetery.
Those inclined to make a donation in Frank’s name, are asked to consider the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Heart Association, the National Park Foundation first, or any charity of one’s choice. Frank would appreciate that.
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