Frank James Kemple, Jr

Frank James Kemple, Jr., 88 of Greenville, TX, formerly of Chamois, died Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Carriage House Manor in Sulphur Springs, TX. Frank was born in Chamois on June 6, 1924, the son of the late Frank James Kemple and Minnie Matilda Holycross. Frank's passion for hunting and fishing as a young boy helped in providing meat for the table during the great depression of the 1930's.

After graduation from Chamois High School, he joined the Navy during World War II. He served three years in the Navy which included two years in the South Pacific. While in the Navy he met Amy Bernice Joaquin. They were married on January 16, 1945. Upon discharge from the Navy, they settled in St. Louis to allow Frank to attend Washington University. After graduation with a BSBA and a major in accounting, he joined the international CPA firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co, now KPMG. After seven years with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, he joined Emerson Electric in St. Louis, a client of Peat, Marwick, & Mitchell. After three years with Emerson, he received an offer to move to Greenville, TX, to establish an accounting department for a division of Ling-Temco-Vaught (LTV). The division later became E-Systems, Inc.

About fourteen years after he arrived at E-Systems, the company won a contract with the U. S. Government for a civilian peace keeping mission in the Sinai Desert between Egypt and Israel. Frank felt like this would be a great break in the day to day routine. He applied and was accepted to go to the Sinai as administrative manager. The first base was located near the Suez Canal. After about six years, much of the Sinai had been returned to Egypt. This required two new bases be established on the east side of the Sinai near Israel. The north base was located near the Mediterranean. The south base was located on the Red Sea. Frank was offered and accepted the position of Base Manager of the south base. Time off from the desert allowed for extensive travel in Israel and Egypt and also, to main land China, the Soviet Union before the break-up, Greece and many European countries.

Frank was a member of Chamois Masonic Lodge, Dallas Scottish Rite, Dallas Hella Shrine and Greenville Elks Lodge.

Frank is survived by his wife Amy; daughters Carol Ann Kirby and Mary Yvonne Davidson; sister, Chris Albert; grandchildren Tom Holder, Frank Holder, Sylvia Davis, John Minter, Zachary Minter and Monica Olason; great-grandchildren Tom Riley, Dawson and Audrey Holder, Connor Davis, Julia and April Olason. Preceding him in death were his parents, Brother Henry Kemple, step-sisters Magola Gilmore and Noreen Keenan, grandchildren Chase and Graham Davidson.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2013 in Chamois City Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, P. O. Box 1993, Dallas, TX 75219-9842.