Frank Edwin Yock, 97, good father, devoted husband, beloved grandfather, WWII veteran, and retired long-time employee of Santa Fe Railway, died on March 6, 2021.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel with Dr. G. A. Roach officiating. A public visitation will also take place between 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Both events will be at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2800 Paramount Blvd. in Amarillo, TX.
Frank was born on May 8, 1923, in Attica, Kansas to Konrad D. Yock, Sr. and Lola E. (Ball) Yock. After graduating from Attica High School in 1941, he attended Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri and then went to work for the Santa Fe Railway in November of 1941. He was later called to serve in the US Army in WWII as a member of the 737th Railway Operating Battalion in the Pacific Theater and also served in Japan during the occupation. After being honorably discharged from the service of his country as a Technical Sergeant in 1946, he continued to work for the Santa Fe Railway in Harper and Wellington, Kansas, as well as other locations.
He and Geraldine Wilson were married in 1950 and had five children, all born in Harper, Kansas. In 1962, he moved his family to Amarillo to continue working for Santa Fe in the Amarillo office. He retired in 1985 after 44 years of service and spent his remaining years as an active community volunteer with organizations such as Meals on Wheels in Amarillo and as a member of the First Presbyterian Church and choir. Frank loved his family, was well-liked by all who knew him, had many friends, and was an avid sports fan. He was a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan and lived to see them win 4 World Series titles after an 80-year drought.
His parents, wife, infant daughter Shirley Lynette Yock, and brothers, William Oren Yock and Konrad David “KD” Yock, Jr. all preceded him in death.
Frank is survived by Bradford E. Yock and wife, Libby Bagot Yock of Canyon, TX; their children Benjamin B. Yock and wife Jade Yvette Yock of New Braunfels, TX; Hannah Yock Smith and husband Myles J. Smith of Houston, TX; Sharon Eatwell and husband, John Eatwell of Flower Mound, TX; their children Lauren Eatwell of Washington, D.C. and Ian Eatwell of Flower Mound, TX; Julie K. Yock of Amarillo, TX: Tamara Coulson of Issaquah, Washington; her child Kalan Nunn and husband Tory Nunn of Amarillo; and great-grandchildren Octavia Coulson and Charles Brown V of Amarillo, TX and Emma J. Yock and Watson B. Yock of New Braunfels, TX.
I’m so thankful to have known Frank! He had the most amazing bass voice, and his love of singing glorified God and blessed others. He and my mother sang in the FPC choir together for years, and I will always remember his loving kindness toward everyone and the fun we had at the choir parties. It was a treat to see him picking up for Meals on Wheels as he brightened everyone’s day. He will be missed greatly.
That my story and i’m sticking to it! One of his quotes, also birthday May8 same as Truman. Will miss visiting him, Great friend
Frank always dressed as Uncle Sam!!!! He was perfect for that role!!!! He and Gerry meant a lot to our family!!!!! Love….Nancee Gilmour
Frank could sing “Deep River” like nobody else. Amongst his war stories – being on a ship in Tokyo Harbor when the Japanese surrendered on the Missouri.
A long, rich life. I will miss him.