Franklin "Frank" Winston Williams

Franklin “Frank” Winston Williams

Franklin “Frank” Winston Williams, 79, of Harrisburg, formerly of Bellefonte, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2022. He was born on December 19, 1942, in Bellefonte, to the late Melvin C. and Mary L. (Spritzer) Williams. Frank was a 1961 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. After high school, Frank worked at the main campus of Pennsylvania State University where he began his career as a well-known chef. He transferred to the Middletown campus where he retired in 1993. He held the position of chef for many years and then became head of housing at the Middletown Campus. His passion for cooking began when he was in high school working alongside his dad at the Plaza Grill in Bellefonte.

After retirement, Frank became very active working in concessions at Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway. He purchased the food and did all of the hiring of employees for the food stands. When the concession stands became too much for him to handle because of health problems, Frank served as a greeter at Williams Grove Speedway and made sure that the people in the suites were well taken care of and made many friends while there. This year he would have proudly celebrated his 50th year serving the racing community.

Frank was also a member of the York County Racing Club. He planned a Christmas party for the members and their families for many years. Working within the budget provided, Frank purchased and prepared all of the food and took time to purchase gifts for the many children who attended. He personally spent many hours individually wrapping the gifts. Frank sold lottery tickets for the racing club and was very proud of the fact that he sold hundreds of them every year. The racing community became a second family to him and he will be sadly missed by the many people he came in contact with.

Frank’s love of cooking had him working at hunting cabins during the hunting season. Although he was not a hunter, he enjoyed cooking for the guys as well as their company; he also cooked at Boy Scout camps over many years. Frank made his own candy, hand-dipping a variety of goodies at Christmas time. Family members and friends always looked forward to receiving these as gifts.

Frank made many friends along the way and in recent years met with a group of men a couple of times a week for breakfast. They fondly referred to the group as the ROMEO’s – retired old men eating out.

Frank is survived by his five siblings: Dorothy (Dottie) Herr (Edwin) of Bellefonte, Melvin Williams (Rita) of Bellefonte, William “Bill” Williams of Altoona, James “Jim” Williams of Connecticut, and Patricia “Patty” Johnston (John) of Boalsburg. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, all of whom he considered his “children.” His family will miss him!

In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his sister, Marie L. Dickson, his brother, Thomas Williams, and his sister-in-law, Sandra Williams.

All are welcome to join Frank’s family at his celebration of life open house and gathering of family and friends on Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Buhrig’s Gathering Place, 25 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, (717) 766-3421 (next to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory).  Over 100 parking spaces are available; just look for the “Buhrig” parking signs in all of the parking lots.

Contributions in celebration of Frank’s life can be made to the York County Racing Club, 568 Yale Street, York, PA 17403, www.ycrc.org.

Frank’s family has entrusted his care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Frank’s full obituary, view his memorial video and portrait, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign his official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.