Mr. Frank Alvin Reilly

Frank Alvin Reilly, 83 of Houston passed away April 1, 2010. He was born on June 22, 1926 in New York, New York to Frank W. Reilly and Helen Christie Reilly. Frank was a member of the United States Army Air Force and served in World War II. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Patricia Coll Reilly, his son, Brian Francis Reilly and his grandson, Max Reilly. Frank is survived by his sons, Michael Robert Reilly and wife Donna Driscoll, Kevin James Reilly and wife Leslie; grand children, Rebecca Reilly, Laura Reilly, Patrick Reilly, Matthew Reilly and Steven Reilly; sister Helen Loftsen; daughter-in-law, Claude Lubroth Reilly as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Frank was an outstanding father, a devoted husband, a wonderful brother and a great friend. Gentle and good-natured, his keen sense of humor was always at the ready. In a recent examination by a medical doctor who wanted to evaluate his mental state, he was asked if he knew who was the President of the United States: he replied, “Some Irish guy who goes by the name of O’Bama”. Frank was born and lived his childhood in Howard Beach, New York. During his teenage years he attended high school and worked delivering home heating oil for his Father’s gas station. In 1944, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force. He attended Gunnery School in Kingman, Arizona where he received certification as an Aerial Gunner. He was a member of the 680th Bomb Squadron of the 504th Bomb Group and served in the Pacific Ocean Theater of Operations as a Sergeant in the Twentieth Air Force as a gunner on B29 aircraft based on Tinian Island in the Marianas Upon his return home from the Pacific, he married his sweetheart, Eileen, and armed with the GI Bill, they moved to Norman, Oklahoma where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in chemistry and physics at the University of Oklahoma. If asked, he said that he chose geology because he “wanted to work outdoors”. Frank’s career as a Petroleum Explorationist spanned the globe and focused on Colombia, North Africa, Pakistan, Ireland, the North Sea and Australia He worked with ESSO, Oasis Oil and Marathon Oil with assignments in Bogota, Tripoli, London, Dublin, Cuxhaven and Perth. He will be remembered fondly by the many friends that he made during his globe-trotting. A master craftsman in all that he did, Frank had notable achievements in photography, antique restoration, woodworking, and knife-making. An owner of several sailboats during his life, with the most recent having been moored at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. He enjoyed almost 30 years of retirement in Jupiter, Fla. and Hilton Head, SC happily engaged in these activities. Frank’s final year was spent in Houston at the Concierge and Plaza Buckingham assisted living facilities and the family wishes to thank the great staff at those facilities for all of their kindness. Frank passed away peacefully some days after having suffered a stroke. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, April 9th at 11:00 am at D.M. Dettling Funeral Directors Chapel, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. Please log on to www.DettlingFuneral.com to leave online tributes.

Mr. Frank Alvin Reilly

June 22, 1926 - April 1, 2010