Mr. Frank Derby, a WWII veteran, retired Chief Warrant Officer of the U.S. Air Force, and retired Air Force SES-4 (Senior Executive Service Level IV), died October 30 of complications following a fall. He was the beloved husband of Faith L. Derby for 57 years until her passing in 2004. He is survived by his daughter Dawn Polt and her husband Douglas Polt; grandson Collin Polt and his wife Julie Polt, and their daughter Faith Polt; granddaughter Whitney Polt-Hardesty and her husband Keith Hardesty; son Mark Derby and his wife Chong Derby; and grandson Matthew Derby.
Mr. Derby was born October 7, 1925 in Phoebus, Virginia. He joined the U.S. Navy with his Aunt's approval on his 17th birthday (1942), after an unsuccessful "covert" attempt a year prior, in order to join the Allied forces in World War II. His first assignment was as a gunner on a guard crew for a merchant ship. His next assignment was aboard LST 496 (Landing Ship, Tank 496). His ship was involved in the 1944 top secret "Exercise Tiger," a practice run for the Normandy Invasion during which a German E-boat attacked his convoy and sunk several ships. LST 496 survived and went on to participate in D-Day. The Landing Ship was assigned to Omaha Beach. Frank was awarded a Purple Heart as a result of injuries sustained when his ship was sunk by mines two miles off the coast of German-occupied France.
After the war, Mr. Derby left the U.S. Navy and transferred into the U.S. Air Force. He achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, and retired honorably from the Air Force in 1964. He went on to have a successful career as a civil servant working for the Air Force Commissaries division. He retired for a second time at SES-4, as the deputy to the Commander for USAF Commissaries Worldwide. He went on to found several companies devoted to providing services to the Department of Defense, and to the U.S. Veterans Administration.
Frank, better known to his loved ones as "Puppa" was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who loved his growing family with all his heart. He chose to live by example, always had a kind word to share, and never met a stranger. He will be forever missed, loved, and fondly remembered by all those he leaves behind.
Mr. Derby will be inurned at Arlington Cemetery, a date is currently pending. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
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