Frank Leslie Felcman passed away May 10, 2024 two days after his 100th birthday. He was born May 8, 1924 to Elsie Ferrell Fuller Felcman and Frank Joe Felcman in Sealy, where his father settled after emigrating from Prague, Czechoslovakia in the early 1900’s.

After his father’s death when Frank was 12, he worked with his mother and three sisters in the family bakery and confectionery. On graduation from Sealy HighSchoolClassof1941,he attended Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College in San Marcos for a year. He then worked with his sister, Leah, in Tulsa OK as a file clerk and mimeograph operator in the post office before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in December1942.

He was called to active dutyinJune1943asanAviation Cadet. He was based at the University of Texas facilities in Austin where he began ground school, flight training, and physical conditioning. Following earning his Naval Aviator wings (24 Oct 1944), he flew patrol missions over the Atlantic coast for the remainder of World War II. He was commissioned an Ensign, serving three years. He also served9.5yearsintheNaval Reserves where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant.

After being released from theNavyinDecember1945, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology in 1949, and began working for a geophysical exploration company. In 1950, he married Shirley Newman, his college sweetheart, and continued his oil exploration work which took him to many small towns in Texas, the swamplands of Louisiana, and as far north as the BadlandsinNorthDakota.

In 1963, he was transferred to Perth, Western Australia for a period of two years to work for West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (WAPET),adivisionofStandard Oil of California. He was transferred from Perth back to Texas and resided in Houston until his death. On the return trip to the U.S. in 1965, he and his family toured parts of the Far East, Middle East, Europe, and Englandover45days.

Following an urge to work for himself, Frank researchedfranchisesinvarious industries and chose to moveintotheprintingindustry in 1971 when he purchased Kwik Kopy Printing #47.In1981,hepurchaseda secondlocationinAustin.He sold both businesses to his daughters in the mid 1980’s, then worked for a variety of otherprintersuntilhisretirement.

He was a member of Temple Lodge #4 AF & AM and was installed as Worshipful MasterJuly13,1974. In retirement, he became very interested in genealogy tracing several families through several generations.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Leah Mayeaux, Helen Tomlinson (Lloyd), and Doris Nastoupil (Carl Jr.). He is survived by wife, Geneva Felcman; 3 children, Kathleen Barkley, Frank L. Felcman Jr. (Katherine), and LeahLinney;grandchildren, Charlotte Felcman Whitaker (Robert) and Kimberly Felcman Hatcher (Adam), and great-grandchildren Emma Whitaker and J.J. Whitaker.