Franklin Joseph Barta

Frank Barta, 97, of Kennewick Washington, died May 3, 2014 of a massive stroke. He was born February 9, 1917 in Concrete, Washington, son of Emma Jess Barta and Joseph Frank Barta.

Frank grew up in Concrete and graduated from Concrete High School in 1935 as valedictorian. Working his way through college, Frank graduated from the U of Washington in 1942 with a degree in metallurgical engineering. His professional career was spent with the Aluminum Company of America Alcoa. During WWII he worked at the plant in Spokane and then was transferred to Vancouver, Washington until he retired in 1975 after designing pollution abatement systems for the process of making aluminum.

In his retirement steelhead fishing was his passion, along with genealogy, gardening and travel. In 1994, Frank and wife, Virginia Bagnell Jungblom Barta whom he married in 1942, moved from Vancouver to the Village at Canyon Lakes in Kennewick. There he is remembered for collecting 23, 000 golf balls from the surrounding grounds at the Canyon Lakes golf course which he donated to local high school golf teams, etc.

Frank is survived by his wife Virginia, his daughters Carol Jungblom Barta Koman of Ellicott City, MD; Diane Virginia Barta Carstens of Richland, WA; and son David Franklin Barta of Tacoma, WA. He leaves eight grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and two sisters Leona Barta Bolle, 102, of Kennewick, WA and Josephine Barta, 100, of Richland, WA. Two brothers, Howard of Seattle and Raymond of Montesano, predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 2001 W Kennewick Avenue, Kennewick WA 99336.