Mr. Frank Stewart's Obituary
Frank Stewart
October 22, 1924-January 29, 2016
Frank Stewart passed away suddenly on January 29, 2016, at his home in Houston. He had been in gentle decline since a stroke in 2010, but kept his cheerfulness and grateful embrace of life to the very end. Frank was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, and raised there by his devoted mother Frances within a loving extended family. Even as a young man, he was intelligent and studious. He used his abilities in service to his country during World War II (1943-47), serving in the 1132nd Engineer Combat Group in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. His unit was converted to the 1347th Engineer Construction Group and was training for direct shipment to the Pacific Theatre on VJ Day. Frank remained in the Army Reserve and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was recalled to active duty in 1951 and deployed to Europe where he was assigned to the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion of the 2nd Armored Division during the Korean War (1951-1952). While in the Army he began his engineering education at the University of Pittsburgh, and between his tours of duty earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from Georgia Tech. After completing his military service, he moved to New Orleans to work for Farnsworth & Chambers, beginning a lifelong career in the construction industry. There he married Lorraine Mackay (div. 1976). Transferred to Houston in 1957, he helped build the city we know today. He and Lorraine raised three children, Andrew, Margaret, and Emily in West University Place. After Farnsworth & Chambers he worked for Granite Construction before founding his own firm, Tectonic Corporation, in 1967, and later Stewart Consulting Associates. He was an active member of the Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and other professional organizations, as well as a past President of the Construction Specifications Institute. In 1977 Frank married Leota Massa, who would become his loving wife of 38 years as well as his partner in business. He became a beloved step-father to her five children, Larry, Carolyn, Richard (Rick), Kenneth (Kenny), and Brian. Frank and Leota found their spiritual home at Epiphany Lutheran Church. Frank is remembered by all who knew him as a kind, personable, generous, and grateful man. Always approachable and friendly, he was gracious and honest to an extraordinary degree. Everyone who met him knew they had encountered a rare individual, the truest of gentlemen. Frank is survived by his wife, Leota; children Columba Andrew Stewart OSB, Margaret Stewart Harris (Alan), Emily Stewart Weingeist (Danny); grandchildren Austin Harris, Andrew Harris, Stewart Weingeist, and Rachel Weingeist; step-children Larry Massa, Carolyn Massa Wilson, Richard Massa, Kenneth Miles, and Brian Massa (Maria); step-grandchildren Claire Massa, Tara Wilson Collins, Paula Lang, Nichole Bourke, Catherine Ryan, Wendell Felton, Timothy Felton, Brandon Miles, Brett Miles, Ryan Miles, Dean Miles, Justin Massa, and Natalie Massa, as well as 11 step-great-grandchildren and 2 step-great-great-grandchildren.
After a private funeral service on February 6, Frank was laid to rest at South Park Cemetery in Pearland, Texas. Memorial gifts may be made to the Epiphany Lutheran Church Building Fund, 14423 West Rd., Houston, TX, 77041.
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