Frank Aimar Damon

Frank Aimar Damon, 97, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, husband for 69 years of the late Weta Stroud Damon, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2011.  The relatives and friends of Frank Damon, are invited to attend his funeral services on Sunday, March 6, 2011 in Providence Baptist Church of Daniel Island at 3:30 p.m.  Interment will be private. The family will receive friends at J. HENRY STUHR, INC.  MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.  Frank was born in Charleston, SC on May 19, 1913, to the late Charles Wood Damon and Gertrude A. Baumil Damon.  Early in life, Frank and his family moved to Florence, SC where his father worked as a conductor on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.  They returned to Charleston during Frank's senior year in high school and he was graduated from Charleston High in 1932.  After high school, Frank held several jobs, including working as a bicycle delivery boy for a meat market and as a clerk at the Belk Robinson store on King Street.  When President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Frank joined and was sent to Fort Moultrie for basic training.  He was transferred to Cheraw, SC and for the next three years he served as Company Clerk for Company 447.  During these years in Cheraw, Frank made lifelong friendships and met the love of his life, Weta Kershaw Stroud, at a CCC sponsored dance.  They married January 27, 1940.  In the early 1940's, Frank worked for the Railway Express Agency in Charleston.  During WWII, he joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Subic Bay in the Philippines when the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.  After the war, Frank was honorably discharged, and he returned to Charleston working with the Railway Express Agency.  In 1950, Frank was recalled to active duty and made the Navy his career.  Assignments included postings in Charleston, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, Morocco and the Midway Islands.  After 22 years of service, Frank retired from the Navy in 1967 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.  Throughout his military career and afterward, Frank and Weta called Charleston home.  They raised their three children in Charleston and maintained close ties with family, friends and others in the Low Country community.  In retirement, Frank and Weta enjoyed traveling to destinations on the east coast, Canada and Hawaii.  Frank was a Master Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite in Charleston.  He remained active in CCC affairs as President of the alumni organization and presided over their annual meetings in Cheraw, SC.  He served as Secretary of the local CCC Alumni Chapter 36.  Frank was a member of Dorchester Waylyn Baptist Church for decades, serving as Training Union Director in the 1950's.  At the time of his death, he was a member of Sullivan's Island Baptist Church.  During his long and full life, Frank was a devoted son, a faithful husband, a strict yet loving father and a loyal friend.  A man of military bearing and firm opinions, he loved dancing to big band music and enjoyed emailing friends, (a skill he mastered at the tender age of 78).  He was also talkative, friendly, organized, thrifty and gentlemanly.  He was a true "friend to man" and will be sorely missed by family and friends. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Weta Stroud Damon (2009) and his daughter Clarice Damon Graham (1999).  Frank is survived by his daughter, Linda Damon Manning and son-in-law, Ray Manning of Mt. Pleasant, his son-in-law, Frank Graham of Murphy, NC, his son, Frank Aimar "Butch"  Damon and daughter-in-law, Cindy Damon of St. Stephen, SC, his daughter-in-law, Sue (Damon)  Linyard of Columbia, SC, his six grandchildren, Claire M. Lyons, Langley D. Burch,  Laura M. Turner, Lisa G. Brooks, D. Rhett Damon and David S. Graham, and his seventeen great grandchildren.  Frank spent his last year and a half at Sandpiper Courtyard where he was incredibly blessed by the loving staff and many friends he made there.  He was ever the gentleman and his family is grateful for all the love and concern returned to them during his last days.  The family requests memorials be made to the Sullivans Island Baptist Church, 1753 Central Avenue, Sullivans Island, SC  29482.  A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.