Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Frank Gerald Hart, 92, passed away September 11, 2013. He was born in Nampa, Idaho August 5, 1921 to Roy Benjamin Hart and Phebe Rosette Gould, the fifth of seven children. He married Alta (Pat) Marshall March 7, 1942 and they were sealed in the Mesa Arizona temple a year later.
At the outset of World War II, Frank entered a pilot training program that began his career in aviation as a pilot instructor, pilot for the Air Transport Command, and commercial pilot for American Airlines. In the course of his career he piloted planes ranging from the Piper Cubs of the 1940s to the Boeing 747s of the 1980s.
As a young couple, Frank and Alta lived in Los Angeles, California and New York City before settling in Ft. Worth, Texas for many years. The majority of their years were then spent living in Sunnyvale and Los Gatos, California where they raised their six children before enjoying their later retirement years in Sandy, Utah. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Frank served in both leadership and support callings with great dedication including serving as the bishop of the first ward created in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1953. In his later years, he and his dear wife were thrilled to serve as missionaries in the Tennessee Nashville Mission. His love of the gospel and desire to serve others has generated the respect and admiration of his large family.
Frank will be greatly missed by his children Gerry (Toni), Rick (Joyce), Janice (Larry) Woodruff, Kathy Bergstrom, Kent (Linda) and David as well as his 28 grandchildren (and their spouses) and 73 great-grandchildren. His love for each of them individually was evidenced in the many notes he kept to remind himself of the birthday and age of every single family member, including his newest great-granddaughter due the day he passed away and the next little great-grandson to be born in the coming weeks. He is also survived by his brother Mark and sister Georgia Ancell. He was preceded in death by his wife Alta, his parents, one sister and three brothers.
A viewing will be held Tuesday morning, September 17, 8:30 - 9:30 prior to funeral services at 10:00 am at the Alpine Utah West Stake Center, 327 South Long Drive, Alpine, Utah 84004. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens, Sandy, Utah. Online condolences welcomed at www.larkincares.com.
