Frank E. Foley, 93, Was Salesman for Chase Parker

Frank E. Foley died peacefully at his home in Edgartown on August 9. He was 93 years old.

Frank was born in New Haven, Conn., on Oct. 12, 1912. He was the only surviving child of Harry and Myrtle Foley. His father, Harry, lived to the age of 100 and was the oldest resident of Wayland at the time of his death.

Frank was graduated from East Hartford High School in 1931 and from the University of Alabama in 1936, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He majored in journalism and served on the school newspaper.

After college he married Virginia Irvine, who had waited since high school for him to finish college. They found themselves in the midst of the Great Depression and decided to move back to Alabama where Frank had a few contacts. After drifting through several jobs he was fortunate to have a friend introduce him to the company he worked for in Alabama. This was the beginning of the industrial supply business, in which Frank believed had a future. For the next six years he learned the basics of the business and felt he would like to be in sales.

In 1944 he moved to Hopkinton to be near family. He worked for Chase Parker Co. of Boston for 27 years, calling on mills and factories throughout New England. He worked for White Hardware in Framingham, also as an industrial salesman, until his retirement in 1980.

Frank lived in Wayland on Dudley Pond for many years. Most evenings after work he loved to row on the pond and fish, always carefully releasing the live fish back into the pond. On many summer weekends he would invite friends and relatives over for a cookout and a fishing derby for the kids from his dock with prizes for all. In the winter months he enjoyed skating on the pond and when the snow had fallen he would shovel it off the ice to form a skating rink for everyone to enjoy.

Frank retired to Edgartown in 1980 to be near his daughter. There he enjoyed gardening and walking the "monkey trail" near his home in Ocean Heights with his granddaughter Laura.

Frank was a member of the John Warren Lodge of Hopkinton for 55 years and a past president of Kiwanis of Hopkinton.

He is survived by his three daughters, Lynne Macomber and her husband, William, of Edgartown, Suzanne Bruns of Springfield and Ariene Rizza and her husband, Richard, of Bellingham; seven grandchildren including Laura Macomber of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Travis Macomber of Edgartown, and eight great-grandchildren.

Frank was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia, and infant son Frank Jr., and in 1969 by his wife, Frances Sullivan.

Memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.