Obituary for Willard "Frank" Green
Willard Franklin Green made his grand entrance into this world prompt, as he was known to be, at 7 months. His mother, Mary Frances, gave birth to this 4lb baby boy at her mother’s house with her husband Willard Harrison by her side. A force even at 4lbs, he was unyielding all the days of his life.
As a young boy Frank attended Fredonia Baptist Church. Fredonia is where he became a Royal Ambassador, and also where he accepted Christ as his Lord at the age of 9. Frank’s love of RA’s continued throughout high school and the rest of his life.
He began working as a Tennessee Royal Ambassador Camp counselor in the late 60’s. During which time he became a student at Belmont University. Ever the entrepreneur, he and his roommate set up a side business selling cokes and snacks to fellow dormmates making a little on the side to help pay some of their expenses.
After a few years at Belmont Frank returned home to Crossville and began work for Malone & Hyde, while continuing as a RA Camp counselor. During this time Frank’s mother Mary unexpectedly passed away. Meeting and falling in love with a young woman named May Dean Layne that spring in 1972, he quickly proposed, and they where married the following August. After that Frank moved to Sparta with Dean and they started their family.
In 1980 a position came open at one of the camps which he had worked as a counselor, Camp Carson in Newport Tennessee. He applied and accepted the position, moving there with his wife Dean and two sons Brad and Andrew later that spring. Frank managed Carson for 14 years making a huge impression on staff and campers alike. The friendships forged at Carson would last the rest of his life. During which time Dean gave birth to their daughter Sarah. He served on several mission trips to Alaska and Chile as well as Chapter leader for Northport Baptist Church’s Wade and Nancy Watts RA Lad chapter.
In 1994 Frank accepted a position with the Baptist Brotherhood Commission, relocating him and his family from the mountains of east Tennessee to the flatlands of Memphis. There he continued his service to the lord, forging strong bonds with his colleagues at the BBC and his church family at Faith Baptist Church. Again, these friendships would endure the rest of his life.
After 6 years Frank and Dean returned to Sparta. Now running their business, Make Tracks, fulltime he continued to serve as RA Trainer for the state of Tennessee.
Frank had a love of old cars and he loved to share that with anyone with would listen. He loved the Tennessee Volunteers, and it has been said by some that he did in fact bleed orange. He had an appreciation for a good pipe and good tobacco. As a carpenter himself, he had a love of fine craftsmanship and could spot a good piece of wood a mile away. He had more knowledge in his big bald head than most people have in their big toe. He was a bastion of knowledge. Friends, neighbors, and family sought out his expertise countless times because, “if anyone knows how to do it, Frank knew how to do it”
He loved big and he loved often. He had a mighty love for his children Brad, Andrew, and Sarah. Sharing with them his knowledge, skills, hopes, loves, and passions and teaching them to do the same. He loved his nieces and nephews as is they were his own. He loved his friends. He loved his in-laws. His love for his brothers and sister was uncanny, loving each for who they are. He loved the Lord. And it goes without saying he loved his wife Dean, with a love and friendship so great it defies description.
Frank is survived by his adoring wife of 47 years May Dean Green. Sons, Brad and Andrew, and daughter Sarah. Brother, Wade Green and sister and brother, in law Lora and Jim Kane. Many nieces, nephews, and loved ones.
Frank is preceded in death by his mother Mary Frances Smith-Green, father Willard Harrison Green, and brother Lyle Green.
The family will receive friends on Friday, November 15, 2019 from 10- a.m. to 12 p.m. with the Funeral Service to follow at 12 p.m. at Bear Cove Baptist Church Sparta, TN with Bro. Kenny Rains and Bro. Mickey Caison officiating. Burial will follow at New Bon Air Cemetery. The family will also receive friends on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com
As a young boy Frank attended Fredonia Baptist Church. Fredonia is where he became a Royal Ambassador, and also where he accepted Christ as his Lord at the age of 9. Frank’s love of RA’s continued throughout high school and the rest of his life.
He began working as a Tennessee Royal Ambassador Camp counselor in the late 60’s. During which time he became a student at Belmont University. Ever the entrepreneur, he and his roommate set up a side business selling cokes and snacks to fellow dormmates making a little on the side to help pay some of their expenses.
After a few years at Belmont Frank returned home to Crossville and began work for Malone & Hyde, while continuing as a RA Camp counselor. During this time Frank’s mother Mary unexpectedly passed away. Meeting and falling in love with a young woman named May Dean Layne that spring in 1972, he quickly proposed, and they where married the following August. After that Frank moved to Sparta with Dean and they started their family.
In 1980 a position came open at one of the camps which he had worked as a counselor, Camp Carson in Newport Tennessee. He applied and accepted the position, moving there with his wife Dean and two sons Brad and Andrew later that spring. Frank managed Carson for 14 years making a huge impression on staff and campers alike. The friendships forged at Carson would last the rest of his life. During which time Dean gave birth to their daughter Sarah. He served on several mission trips to Alaska and Chile as well as Chapter leader for Northport Baptist Church’s Wade and Nancy Watts RA Lad chapter.
In 1994 Frank accepted a position with the Baptist Brotherhood Commission, relocating him and his family from the mountains of east Tennessee to the flatlands of Memphis. There he continued his service to the lord, forging strong bonds with his colleagues at the BBC and his church family at Faith Baptist Church. Again, these friendships would endure the rest of his life.
After 6 years Frank and Dean returned to Sparta. Now running their business, Make Tracks, fulltime he continued to serve as RA Trainer for the state of Tennessee.
Frank had a love of old cars and he loved to share that with anyone with would listen. He loved the Tennessee Volunteers, and it has been said by some that he did in fact bleed orange. He had an appreciation for a good pipe and good tobacco. As a carpenter himself, he had a love of fine craftsmanship and could spot a good piece of wood a mile away. He had more knowledge in his big bald head than most people have in their big toe. He was a bastion of knowledge. Friends, neighbors, and family sought out his expertise countless times because, “if anyone knows how to do it, Frank knew how to do it”
He loved big and he loved often. He had a mighty love for his children Brad, Andrew, and Sarah. Sharing with them his knowledge, skills, hopes, loves, and passions and teaching them to do the same. He loved his nieces and nephews as is they were his own. He loved his friends. He loved his in-laws. His love for his brothers and sister was uncanny, loving each for who they are. He loved the Lord. And it goes without saying he loved his wife Dean, with a love and friendship so great it defies description.
Frank is survived by his adoring wife of 47 years May Dean Green. Sons, Brad and Andrew, and daughter Sarah. Brother, Wade Green and sister and brother, in law Lora and Jim Kane. Many nieces, nephews, and loved ones.
Frank is preceded in death by his mother Mary Frances Smith-Green, father Willard Harrison Green, and brother Lyle Green.
The family will receive friends on Friday, November 15, 2019 from 10- a.m. to 12 p.m. with the Funeral Service to follow at 12 p.m. at Bear Cove Baptist Church Sparta, TN with Bro. Kenny Rains and Bro. Mickey Caison officiating. Burial will follow at New Bon Air Cemetery. The family will also receive friends on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com