Francis Joseph “Frank” Vahle, of Lenox, died Friday August 16, 2024, surrounded by his family. Frank was born at home on West Road (now Under Mountain Road) in Lenox, on September 16, 1934. He was the eldest son of the late Franz and Anna Smith Vahle.
Frank was a 1952 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Pittsfield. He was employed at New England Telephone as a cable splicer, lineman, toll and special services technician, and retiring as a Central Office Manager after 39 years. He achieved the rank of Sargent in the Massachusetts National Guard, was highly skilled in marksmanship, and loved the outdoors.
Frank married Virginia “Ginger” Sullivan on May 30, 1956, at St. Francis Church in North Adams. Ginger predeceased Frank 12 weeks prior on May 24, 2024.
Frank is survived by his daughters, Mary, Ellen Rennie (Gregg) of Madison, Conn., Kathleen Harrison (Brian) of West Newbury, Mass.; Virginia Goggins (Thomas) of Pittsfield; and Margaret Colwell (Kevin) of Mechanicsville, Va.; his sons, Francis Jr. (Tabitha) of Lenox and Paul (Edwina) of Birmingham, Ala.; his brother William Vahle (Diane) of Becket; his brother-in-law William Sullivan (Elizabeth) of California; 14 grandchildren, Matthew (Jennifer) Rennie, Daniel Rennie, Meghan (Thomas) Harrington, Peter (Maya) Vahle, Kristopher Vahle, Kallan (Erich) Yee, Connor (Amanda) Harrison, Elizabeth (David) Aitoro, Timothy (Bridget) Goggins, Virginia (Max) Roehmholdt, Nora Colwell, Sean (Alicia) Colwell, William Vahle, and Ansel Vahle; and seven great-grandchildren, Thomas and Anthony Aitoro, Cameron and Harriet Yee, William Harrison, Otto Roehmholdt, and Fiona Harrington. He was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and John Vahle (Monica), and his sisters, Ann Vahle and Martha Maturevich (Nick).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ann Church on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 10 a.m., by the Rev. Monsignor John J. Bonzagni, Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday, August 22, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Roche Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s memory may be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Sisters of St. Joseph in care of Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240. To share memories and stories, please visit the funeral home’s website.
