Frank was the husband of Mary (Marion) Vesey Waldron who died in October 2019. They were married for 63 years in June 2019. Together they created a wonderful life together raising seven children, embracing seven sons/daughters in-law and enjoying the successes and adventures of 17 grandchildren. Frank was elated to meet the newest member of the family: his first great-grandson, 8-week-old Leo Ryan Fiore. Frank was a true family man.
Born in Plainfield, NJ, Frank was the youngest son of the late John and Catherine (Hussey) Waldron who emigrated from Gortnageeragh, County Mayo, Ireland and Ballinlough, County Roscommon, Ireland, respectively. He is a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Westfield, NJ, and the American Institute of Banking in New York City.
Frank served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany from 1951 to 1953. He worked at the Irving Trust Company in New York City. With his banking and prior truck company experience, Frank got a job at Mack Truck in Plainfield. When Mack moved its world headquarters to Allentown, Frank packed up his family and moved them to a “cornfield development” in Macungie.
He worked in Mack Financial and traveled extensively to Central and South American regions assisting customers with financing fleets of Mack Trucks. Frank was a proud gold Bulldog coin carrying employee. Frank loved that the Waldrons were a fourth generation Mack family with his father, his oldest son John, and oldest grandson Patrick all employees of the iconic truck manufacturer.
When Frank retired from Mack after 27 years, he worked in membership sales for the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and then in regional sales for the Comfort Inn Group, Bethlehem.
An affable man, Frank’s easy-going manner enabled him to develop warm relationships with neighbors and friends while living in Ancient Oaks, the Fairways, and later at Country Meadows in Allentown. As people often remarked, “Frank was a good man – a quintessential gentleman.”
Frank was an active member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 70 years. He reached the level of 4th Degree and served as a member of the honor guard at members’ funerals. In his retirement, he volunteered at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest campus. He loved “working the floor” by delivering mail, flowers, and other items to help brighten a patient’s hospital stay.
An avid sports fan, he enjoyed Yankees baseball, Notre Dame and Penn State football, March Madness basketball, and any team on which his children or grandchildren played. Frank and Marion always showed up to plays, concerts, dance recitals, and celebrations for their children and grandchildren.
Frank cherished his Irish heritage. The trips he and Marion took to Ireland to visit relatives in counties Mayo and Roscommon were special. They faithfully kept in touch with many of the relatives through letters and phone calls.
A founding member of St. Thomas More Church, Frank was an active member for 55 years and an usher at the 5:30 Saturday night Mass. He and Marion were strong advocates for Catholic Education supporting STM and Allentown Central Catholic High School.
Survivors – Frank is survived by his seven children and their spouses: John (Jill) Waldron of Summerfield, NC; Anne (John) Fiore of Bethlehem; Nora (Steve) Gintowt of Carlsbad, CA; Peter (Terese) Waldron of Allentown; Maureen (Peter) Freda of Martinsville, NJ; James (Julianne) Waldron of Louisville, KY; and Margaret (Terry) Bollinger of Harrisburg. Also 17 grandchildren: Patrick, Christopher, and Peter Waldron; Mark (Emily) and Maria Fiore; Phillip, Patricia, and Catherine Gintowt; Madaline, Sophia and Andrew Waldron; Emily and Abby Freda; Brady and Riley Waldron; and Cecilia and Gabe Bollinger; and one great-grandson Leo Ryan Fiore. He is also survived by many Waldron, Vail, Gardner, and Foley nieces and nephews, and Irish relatives in Ireland and England.
In addition to his wife Marion (Mary), he was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Catherine; a granddaughter, Melissa Freda; his parents; his brothers and sisters and their spouses: John (Margie), William, Peggy (Richard), Kay (Harold), and Mary (Ray); and his sisters-in-law, Betty (Tom) Foley and Peggy Vesey.
Services – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 14, 2021 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown 18103. Due to Covid restrictions, there will be no viewing or calling hours prior to the funeral. The Mass will be livestreamed on St. Thomas More Church Allentown YouTube site. Interment will be private. Arrangements by Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Homes, Allentown, www.BKRFH.com
Contributions – Contributions may be made in Frank’s memory to: the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania for the Francis & Mary Waldron Family Endowment Fund. The fund supports a school citizenship & service award to a graduating senior, as well as scholarships, and academic and extracurricular programs at Allentown Central Catholic High School. Mail gifts to the Catholic Foundation of Eastern PA at P.O. Box 1430, Allentown, PA 18105 or online at www.catholicfoundationep.org
Published in Morning Call on May 8, 2021.
