Franklin Morris Henzel

Franklin Morris Henzel, age 97, died in King of Prussia, PA, on September 18, 2024. He was

born October 12, 1926 in Philadelphia, the son of Catherine Price Henzel and Howard Randolph

Henzel, of Olney, Philadelphia. Frank married Dorothy Talbott in October 1953 with whom he

had two children, Mark and Stephanie. For more than 40 years, their home in Upper Merion

Township was well known for many things, including as a refuge for lost or homeless pets to cub

scout troops to youth sports teams.

A graduate of James Russell Lowell School and old Northeast High School, Frank was drafted

into the Army in 1944, trained in San Antonio, and took courses at North Carolina State

University when the war ended. He attended and graduated Temple University thereafter.

Frank taught high school mathematics out of college then took a position with The Presbyterian

Ministers Fund Life Insurance where he worked for 40 years and rose to Vice President of

Operations.

When he was not working at the Fund, Frank was enjoying his true passion - music. Music was

always in Frank’s heart and soul, and he sang often and everywhere - especially in the halls of

his home. Frank was a high tenor who performed early in his career in many shows - starting in

high school in The Northeast Follies in the 1930s and later as a soloist or chorister with many

organizations, including The Savoy Opera Company where he was a lead in productions of

HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, the Gondoliers and The Mikado. Over the years, Frank sang

with Singing City, Philomusica Chorale, Vox Amadeus, Montgomery County Senior Chorus, and

many other choral organizations.

From Philadelphia to Wilmington, Frank sang in many churches and synagogues including

Trinity Episcopal in Wilmington, Christ Church Greenville Delaware, Congregation Rodeph

Shalom, and the Haws Avenue United Methodist Church of Norristown. Frank sang well into his

90s, only stopping as result of the pandemic.

Frank also enjoyed sports, and for decades he rolled in downtown Philadelphia men’s league and

Senior Bowling League of Montgomery County.

In addition to his parents and his wife Dottie, Frank was predeceased by his siblings, Rae

Kolupaev (96), John Henzel (96), and Mary Entrekin (95).

Frank is survived by his son, Mark Henzel and his wife, Jennifer Lajoie, and granddaughters

Sophia Joie and Nina Rae, all of Waterbury VT; as well as his daughter, Stephanie Henzel, of

King of Prussia, and many nephews and nieces. Frank was a wonderful, giving and loving father

and grandparent, the latter of which he so happily became late in life.

Services will be at The Church of The Good Samaritan in Paoli at 10 a.m. on October 5, 2024.

The family will receive relatives and friends before the service from 8:45am to 9:45am at the church.

Frank - giving in life as well as death - donated his body to the Sidney Kimmel Medical College

of The Thomas Jefferson University.

Please consider a donation in his honor for research for dementia or to a musical organization.

Arrangements by The Bacchi Funeral Home & Crematory, Bridgeport, PA.