Frank Youngblood, of Leesburg, Florida, sang in the Baptist church in Leesburg as a child. He also sang in choral groups at Leesburg High School and at the University of Florida. He even sang for the troops while serving in Japan with the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. And he continued to sing even in his last few years while living with his children in Atlanta.
Frank died from complications from Alzheimer’s the morning of March 14 at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, Georgia. He was 78 years old.
Frank was born in Vienna, Georgia on October 3, 1932, the youngest of seven children to Marion Jackson Youngblood and Mary Alice Thompson Youngblood. His family moved to Leesburg, Florida in 1934. Frank went on to graduate from Leesburg High School in 1950 and spent one year at Florida State University before entering the United States Navy in 1951. Upon an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1955, he enrolled at the University of Florida graduating in 1958 with his bachelor’s degree in advertising. He married Judith Elaine Bischoff in 1961 in Jacksonville and they had three children, Steve, David and Mary Alice.
Frank worked for the State of Florida’s Health and Rehabilitative Services from 1972 until retirement in 1997. In 1998 he moved back to Leesburg. In retirement, he traveled throughout Europe and as well to Mexico and Australia. He spent time with his children and grandchildren in Atlanta and in Jacksonville. In 2007, Frank moved in with his children in Atlanta.
Frank is survived by his son Steve (49) in Alpharetta, Georgia, his son David (47) in Jacksonville, Florida and his daughter Mary Alice (42) in Snellville, Georgia. He is also survived by sister Betty in Leesburg, Florida and grandchildren in Alpharetta, Georgia, Statesboro, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.
The family would like you to consider making a donation in honor of Frank to the Alzheimer’s Association, http://alz.org.
Services will be held on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 11:30am at Byers Funeral Home in Leesburg, Florida. Byers is located at 1123 West Main Street, Leesburg, FL, 34748. Reception to follow.
