Obituary for Dale Fronk
Dale Fronk
01/31/1939 - 06/01/2023
Dale Alvin Fronk, born in Dover, Ohio, on January 31, 1939, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2023, after an extremely courageous battle with glioblastoma. Dale's stalwart constitution enabled him to outlive the doctors' predictions by over a year. The son of Edward Henry and Mary Viola Bambeck Fronk, he was the fifth of eleven children. He loved Dover and the time he spent working on the Bambeck Farm, which instilled in him a work ethic that endured throughout his entire life.
After graduating from Dover High School, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, and enrolled at The Ohio State University, graduating from a five-year program in Ceramic Engineering. Dale went on to have a distinguished career of over forty-five years at The Edward Orton Ceramic Foundation. He also served as President of the American Ceramic Society for several years and used his talents in his own surveying business, surveying properties throughout Columbus for many years. Dale also enjoyed and modeled for his children the importance of community service. He was involved in several leadership positions at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, President of the PTA at Alpine Elementary School and Beechcroft High School and coached baseball, basketball, and football in various youth leagues.
While at Ohio State, Dale met the love of his life, Helen Sarisky. Married September 9, 1961, they enjoyed fifty-eight years of marriage, until Helen's passing in May 2020. As the proud father of Dale and David, he valued his family above all and adored his grandchildren, to whom he was a devoted "Pops".
Dale leaves to cherish his memory his son Dale (Lisa) of McDonald, Ohio, daughter-in-law, Barbara of Marietta, Georgia, grandchildren, Michael (Alyssa), Mark (girlfriend Ashley), Christopher, Aly (Evan), Matt (fiancee' Daniela), Mary (Justin) and Stewart. Throughout his life, his brothers and sisters and their spouses were his best friends, and he is survived by sisters Elaine, Sally (Barry) Robinson, Mary (Skip Smallridge), brother Jim (Martha Belury) and sisters-in-law Nancy, Marilyn, Sue, Dee and Lynn, along with over one hundred cherished nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife and parents, Dale was predeceased by his son David, brothers Ed, Bob, Dan, Paul, Dean, and Bud, along with sister-in-law Jody.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Zangmeister Cancer Center and Capital City Hospice for their caring treatment and support of Dale. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any donations be made to Capital City Hospice, 2800 Corporate Exchange Dr. #170, Columbus, Ohio 43231 or through their website, https://capitalcityhospice.com . At Dale's request, private services will be held.