Frank Ettinger, 99, of Edinburg, passed away Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at Skyline Terrace Nursing Home. A
memorial service will be held Saturday, November 4, at 10:30am at St. Johns Methodist Church, 116 High Street,
Edinburg, VA 22824. A military interment of his ashes will follow immediately there after at the Cedarwood Cemetery
Columbarium. A reception at the Edinburg VFW post will follow.
Frank was born in 1924 in Granite City, Illinois. His family relocated shortly thereafter to Chagrin Falls, Ohio where
he grew up. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1942, Frank joined the United States Army Air Corps. Based
on a good high school record, he was assigned to the Aviation Cadet Training Program at the University of Alabama,
which he hoped would lead to joining his older brother as a pilot. However, problems with his eyes led to surgery
and subsequent reassignment as a radio mechanic and transfer to Truax Field in Wisconsin. Frank was shipped
overseas in 1944 to the China-Burma-India (CBI) theatre of operations and assigned to the 51st Fighter Control
Squadron of the 10th Air Force. Staff Sergeant Ettinger served first in the Assam Valley of India and then in Burma,
where he and his small detachment celebrated VJ Day in 1945. Frank returned to the States on New Year’s Day in
1946. He was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, The European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign
with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and Victory Medal World War II.
Frank jumped at the opportunity offered by the new GI Bill, enrolling for the spring term at Bowling Green State
University in his home state of Ohio. It was there that he met a pretty sorority girl who soon became his wife for the
next 60 years. Frank stayed in the Reserves and was recalled to active duty for the Korean War. After several years
of working in a variety of businesses, he discovered his passion as a 6th grade teacher. Known as Mr. E, he taught
math, science and history for 25 years in the Mayfield school district in Ohio.
Upon retiring from teaching in 1988, Frank and his wife Marge moved to the Bowmans Crossing area of Edinburg in
order to be closer to their grand kids in Northern Virginia. There they were active with their Brittany dogs, taking
them on visits to Skyline Terrace Nursing Home. He was a member of St; Johns Methodist Church, VFW Post 2447,
and the Edinburg Lions Club where Frank served as President. In 2002 Frank and Marge relocated to a retirement
community outside of Lakeland, Florida.
Frank moved back to Edinburg, VA in 2018 with his son’s family. Since a bad fall in September 2019 that resulted in
a broken hip, he has been at the Skyline Terrace Nursing Home in Woodstock, VA.
An interview of Frank’s experiences can be found on the “Friends of the WWII Memorial” site
at http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/voices-of-wwii/profile/1394.
Frank Leaves behind his son, Bill and Daughter in Law Cathy Ettinger, of Edinburg VA, a granddaughter Heather
Ann Wenzel of Santa Rosa CA, a grandson LtCdr Brett Ettinger, USCG, of Seattle, a great granddaughter Elizabeth
and great grandson David of Seattle.
In lieu of flowers, donations, can be made in Franks honor to the Edinburg Lions Club, P.O. Box 417
Edinburg, VA 22824
Online condolences may be left at www.valleyfs.com
Arrangements by Heishman Funeral Home Inc., Valley Funeral Service Branch, Edinburg.