Franklin Joesph Barthen
Franklin Joseph Barthen, 83, passed away Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, surroundedby his loving family at his home on Bittersweet Burro Farm, Orient, Ohio.
Born Aug. 7, 1926, to Joseph C. and Ethel (Chase) Barthen, his family lived in Chippewa County, Wis., including the Cobban and Popple Lake communities.
In 1943 he traveled by train to Columbus from Eau Claire and lived with his eldest sister Lorraine (John) Spicer, working at Jeffrey’s Machining while attending evening classes at Central High School his senior year. He served at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii through a naval contract and civil service position in the naval yards during World War II.
Frank met Kathleen “Kitty” Bobst in 1947. Married in 1949, they raised eight children, and after 47 years, Frank retired as the president of Buckeye Donkey Ball Co. in 1993, finishing a very accomplished career in the fund-raising and entertainment business. A “multi-generational” family business, Buckeye Donkey Ball employed many people from 1934 to the present, many who worked from the “donkey farm” on Burro Lane.
Curious by nature, Frank was an avid scuba diver and published underwater photographer as featured in both “Skin Diver” and “Alert Diver.” He was a member of Buckeye Divers, Columbus Sea Nags, and was among the invited speakers with Phillipe Cousteau and Dr. Eugenie Clark to the “Boston Sea Rovers” annual conference. He made presentations at the Chicago “Our World Underwater” annual symposium. Frank and Kitty traveled extensively to fifty states, and four continents, loving the company of family and friends. He often said, “if you are down by the creek, stop by,” as no one was a stranger to him.
Survivors are children, Joseph Barthen (Connie) Frazeysburg, Ohio; Jill Barthen (Dennis) Berke; Jean (Terry) Hamilton, Columbus, Ohio and Pine Island; Mike Barthen, Orient, Ohio; Tina (Greg) Macklin, Upper Arlington, Ohio; Melinda (Colin) Lamond, Burradoo, NSW, Australia; Karen (Bill) Wentzel, New Castle, Colo.; Patrick (Linda) Barthen, Orient, Ohio; grandchildren, Frank Barthen, Adam Barthen, Kaci Barthen, Dennis (Melissa) Hamilton; Jeremy (Michelle) Hamilton; Ryan Barthen, Kathleen and James Macklin, Clara, Elizabeth, and Mary Lamond, Lee and Annie Wentzel, Jason Mooney, and Susan Nowak; great-grandchildren, Abby, Maddie, Peyton, Parker, Presley, Palmer, and Gracyn. Also surviving are his sisters, Betty (Bob) Crosby and Norma Felmlee.
Two sisters, Lorraine Spicer and Audrey Porn, brother Robert Barthen, and grandson Austin Barthen preceded him in death.
Visitation was Wed., Feb. 24, in Ohio. Celebration of life service was Thursday, Feb. 25, with Pastor Leland Brehm officiating, Derby United Methodist Church, 11792 London Rd., Derby, Ohio.
Lunch followed in the Fellowship Hall.
Private family internment at Pleasant Cemetery, Mt. Sterling. Memorials preferred to Derby United Methodist Church, Derby, Ohio; Westfall School Foundation, Williamsport; Pickaway County Hands for the Disabled, Circleville; and The Dawes Arboretum, Newark, Ohio.
The family wishes to acknowledge the compassionate care given by all caregivers over the past several years. Friends may make on-line condolences at www.schoedinger.com.