Frank Dade Wouters

Frank Dade Wouters, 88, passed away on November 3, 2023 in Orange Park, FL. He was born on May 24, 1935 in Fort Pierce, to the late Frank J. and France D. Wouters.

Frank graduated from Dan McCarty High School in Ft. Pierce, class of 1954. As a young boy, Frank delivered newspapers and worked as a meat cutter. While attending high school he was a volunteer fire fighter and member of The Boy Scouts of America, attaining the Life Rank and The Order of the Arrow and attended Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Frank served with the U.S. Army for twenty-two years and the National Guard for two years. He served in Germany from 1956-1959 and received an Airborne Master Parachute Badge with eighty jumps. Frank completed Officer Candidate School in Fort Sill, OK in 1962 and attended flight school, flying L-19 “Bird Dog” and L-20 “Beaver”. He served two tours in Vietnam from October 1963 to September 1965 and May 1967 to May 1968. Frank served in Korea from December 1971 to January 1973, just to name a few of his military assignments. He retired from the Army with the rank of Major in November 1974. During his career, Frank enjoyed building and flying balsa wood remote airplanes.

After his military career, in 1975, Frank began working as an apprentice picture framer for Plain and Fancy Frame Shop in Enterprise, AL. In 1979 he moved to Vero Beach, FL and opened his own shop, “Frank’s Hangups.” Frank was a long-time member and pioneer of Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) serving as President of the Sunshine State Chapter. He retired after more than thirty years as a professional picture framer. He moved to Orange Park after his wife Catherine passed away.

Frank was a philanthropist, giving to many, many organizations. He attended First United Methodist Church in Enterprise, AL and First United Methodist Church in Vero Beach, FL. After moving to Orange Park, he attended Orange Park Methodist Church. While living in Enterprise he was an active member of the Lions Club.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Catherine Jones Wouters; brother, James “Jimmy” A. Wouters and son-in-law, Robyn B. Jackett.

Frank is survived by his loving children, Frank Dade Wouters, Jr. (Sally) of Palm Bay, FL, Mary Catherine Jackett and Patricia Martin (James) all of Orange Park; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; brothers, John J. Wouters of Orange Park and Eddie S.Wouters (Carol) of Fort Pierce; sister, Mary A. Brough of Shoreline, WA; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; friends, Sondra and Harry Quatraro and a host of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in Frank’s honor, to any veteran’s organization or your favorite charity.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida 32073, (904) 264-1233. At a later date, Frank will be placed at Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville.

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