Frank Endres

Frank P. Endres long-time Akron bowling proprietor and member of the Tri-County Bowling Hall of Fame died on Nov. 28 2013 after a short illness. He was 93. Franklin Peter Endres was born in Akron on April 10 1920 to Peter and Elizabeth (Dukarm). He graduated from East High School in 1937 and attended the University of Akron for two years joining Lone Star fraternity and working part-time in his father's bakery on Aster Avenue in Firestone Park. He played saxophone for the Scarlet and Gray Revelers a popular band that played at East Market Gardens and other area dance halls in the late 1930s. On Nov. 7 1941 he married his high school sweetheart Lucrete Arrington. She died in 2008. Frank eventually owned and operated the Bon Ton Bakery on Lovers Lane in Akron for some 15 years. After Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1941-1945 aboard the U.S.S. New York. The battleship operated in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and saw action in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. An avid bowler he and Lucrete bowled in many leagues at Buchtel Lanes Rollaway Lanes Bories Gran Lanes Falls Rec and other houses now long gone. He loved bowling so much that in 1957 Frank made a dramatic career change. He left the bakery business and bought North Hill Recreation a 6-lane house in the basement of the Labor Temple on North Main Street. Ten years later he became a partner and manager of Midway Lanes on Tallmadge Avenue. Eventually he became sole proprietor and manager of Midway He retired in 1999 at the age of 79 selling the business to long-time friend and business associate Ray Stalnaker. He was elected to the USBC Tri-County Hall of Fame in 1994. He bowled in three leagues up to last year. This year he bowled at Midway on the '3 Generations' team with his son Fred and grandson Jon. They didn't win much but they had a good time. Although he suffered from macular degeneration and neuropathy in recent years it didn't keep him from enjoying bowling or from regular Thursday night dinners with family and friends at the New Era Restaurant. Frank also loved fishing. He Lucrete and their friends would head to Canada every summer until Frank bought and renovated a cottage on Berlin Reservoir in the 1970s. He was a long-time active member and benefactor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Goodyear Heights. In recent years he was the 'candy man ' providing treats for youngsters at children's church services. He also was a long-suffering fan of the Cleveland Browns holding season tickets for a number of years. He lived in Akron all his life the last 62 years at a home he and Lucrete built on Indianola Avenue. Besides his wife and parents he was preceded in death by his daughter Faye Bradley (Houston TX); grandchildren Jamie Endres and Ricky Bradley; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Phyllis Endres (Akron); and sister Norma Lindsay (Tucson AZ). He is survived by son and daughter-in-law Fred and Kitty Endres of Kent; granddaughter Stephanie Endres of Akron; grandson Jon Endres of Kent; sister Elizabeth Kidney of Tucson; dear companion Yvonne Allen of Stow; and wonderful friend Adam Violet of Akron. The family expresses deep gratitude to care givers Cindy May Stacy Griffin and Pam Evans; the nurses at Summa Home Hospice; and Dr. Leroy Lefever. There will be a celebration of Frank's life at a memorial service at Emmanuel United Church of Christ at a time and date to be announced. There will be no calling hours. Burial in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the Grand Prix Scholarship Fund for Junior Bowlers % Midway Lanes 1070 E. Tallmadge Ave. Akron OH 44310.