Obituaries:  Frank Patrick Lopez Jr., Sabine Parish       L-120
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jun 9, 1993
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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Frank Patrick Lopez Jr.

  Frank Patrick Lopez Jr., son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Patrick Lopez Sr. of Zwolle, died suddenly in his home in Glade
Hill Virginia, of a heart attack, March 11, 1993. "Pat", as he
was known to family and friends, was born in Center, Texas. Feb.
4, 1926. When he was three years old, the family moved back to
Louisiana, living first in the Blue Lake Community, and later
moved to a farm on Many Route 3. It was from there that he
started his schooling at Alliance High School, and continued
until his junior year.

  On his 17th birthday, Feb. 4, 1944, with parental consent, he
enlisted in the Marine Corp. and took his "boat" training at Camp
Pendleton, California. Upon completing this training, he was
assigned to the 1st Marine Division, and saw action throughout
the war in the Pacific. He was wounded on Okinawa, and sent to a
hospital in Hawaii. After he recovered from his wounds, he
rejoined his unit, and remained in the Pacific for the duration
of the war. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries.
Also a Good Conduct Medal, and a Special Citation for rescuing a
wounded fellow marine while under fire. When the war ended, he
was sent to Teint Sin, China, where he spent 2 years in the army
of occupation. The food, customs, and people were so different,
and the country so huge, it was hard to adjust to, but he later
came to appreciate the differences, and it was an experience that
remained with him.

  When he returned to the states, he was stationed in Virginia,
and it was while he was there that he met and married Patsy
Cookay of Pisgah Maryland. Afterwards, he was sent to Guantanamo
Cuba, but Patsy said military life was not for her, and after 12
years in the marines, he got out. He went to work for the Federal
Government at the naval powder factory in Indian Head Maryland,
and retired in 1978, after 34 years of service to the government.
While he was working, he went to night school to finish high
school, and went to Virginia Tech College for a while. Later he
took some college courses at the University of South at Swance,
Tennessee, and it was in his future plans to go back to college,
and take some courses in history. All the historic places in
Virginia had renewed his interest in history, and he felt there
was so much more to learn, if one only applied themselves.

  He is survived by three daughters, Shelly Potter of Virginia,
and Loriann Hitch, and Carla Clifford of Indian Head, Maryland;
two grandsons; and one granddaughter; and one great
granddaughter; also six sisters and one brother, Ester Pilcher,
Many, Marie Morgan of Liberty, Texas, Adele Sadler of Querton,
Texas, Odessa Novak of Portland, Oregon; twins, Orisdell Remedies
of Zwolle, and Doresvell Lott of Silsbee, Texas; and brother
Timmy D. Lopez of Los Vegas, Nevada; and several nieces, nephews,
and cousins.

  He was preceded in death by his parents, "Pat" and Lucendy
Lopez, and brother Ernest, all of Zwolle; and a sister, Vernice
Forshee of Grand Cane.

  He had a great love for the outdoors, and loved to hunt and
fish. He especially loved the beauty of Virginia where he lived,
at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it was because of
this love that he requested his body be cremated, and his ashes
be scattered over the Shenandoah Valley, where he had often
hunted and fished.