Frank Gatch

Mr. Barnard Franklin Gatch, Jr., known his entire life simply as “Frank”, age 62, of 306 Wintergreen Road in the Silver Hills Subdivision of Walterboro, entered into rest Thursday morning, May 16, 2013, at the Ralph H. Johnson Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Charleston.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, May 21, 2013, from Saint Anthony Roman Catholic Church, 925 Jefferies Boulevard, Walterboro. The Reverend Father Jeffery Kendall officiating. The final commendation and farewell will follow the funeral mass at 1 o’clock that afternoon with military honors as provided by the United States Air Force in the Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort.

Born September 16, 1950, a native of Charleston and lifelong resident of Walterboro, he was a son of the late Barnard Franklin Gatch, Sr. and the late Margaret Louise Bennett Gatch. Frank served his country faithfully in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era and was also a military policeman. Following his active duty with the military he was employed by South Carolina Electric and Gas where he worked faithfully for forty years before retiring as a Control Room Operator from their Canaday’s Power Plant. His childhood church was Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Walterboro where his great grandfather was the church’s first minister to fill the pulpit and supply ministry to the congregation; however, after meeting the love of his life, he became faithful in his attendance at Saint Anthony Roman Catholic Church where he became a beloved icon and was dedicated to serve in any areas needed at their church. A member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans – Colleton Rangers Camp 1643, he served as the Camp’s Chaplin during the first centennial year of the Confederate Memorial on the Court House grounds. Frank served as President of the Board at Santee Resort and Marina. He will be fondly remembered for his love of Bass Fishing, one of his most prideful pastimes; as well as for being an avid Clemson Tiger’s Football fan.

Surviving are: his loving wife and faithful companion, Mrs. Jan Newton Gatch; four daughters, Angela Gatch Nettles and her husband David of Saint George, Elizabeth Gatch Strickland and her husband Ray of Walterboro, Renelle Newton Herndon and her husband Jim of Lexington, and Dawn Newton of Lexington; and a brother, Brian Aggie Gatch, Sr. of Walterboro. There are nine grandchildren and one great grandchild that also survive.

Flowers will be accepted, or for those that wish, the family has respectfully requested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: Saint Anthony Roman Catholic Church, for use with the Parrish’s Debt Reduction Fund, 925 Jefferies Highway, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488.

For those that so desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence, as well as memorable recollections of Frank may be shared with the family at the online guestbook, www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

Family and friends are invited to call from 6 o’clock until 8 o’clock this Monday evening where the Holy Rosary will be recited at 6 o’clock at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.

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