Frank "Pops" Owen Gruber, 85 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away at 7:02 a.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2006 in the Adams Memorial Hospital located in Decatur, Indiana. Frank was born on December 23, 1920 in Higbee, Missouri, the son of the late Pete Gruber and the late Georgia (Owen) Gruber. He married the late Carol Pollock on June 2, 1945 in Norfolk, Virginia and she passed away on December 16, 2001. Frank was a member of Hillside Lions Club in Hillside, Illinois; Hillside/Berkley Presbyterian Church in Berkley, Illinois; graduated from Higbee High School Class of 1938 and then went on to Chicago for Diesel Mechanic schooling. In 1939 Frank worked at Bigelow Sanford in Chicago; he served his country during World War II in the United States Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, where he was aboard several Aircraft Carriers. After the war, he went to work for R. R. Donnelly & Sons in Chicago until retiring in 1982. Frank loved good food, fishing, playing Cribbage, and traveling around the world. He will be missed by all he touched on this earth. Surviving are his sister, Winona Thomas of Jefferson City Missouri, daughter, Mrs. Rich (Kathy) Rauch of Decatur, Indiana, son, Kent (Carol) Gruber of Downers Grove, Illinois, five grandchildren: Julie Gruber, Reneé Gruber, Neal Gruber of Downers Grove, Illinois, Brooke Martinez of Decatur, Indiana, and Rachel Rauch of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and four great-grandchildren: Alex, Cara, Zachary, and Collin. Frank was preceded in death by one brother, James Gruber in 1932; and one grandchild, Ian Martinez in 1982. A family Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Preferred memorials are to Adams County Community Foundation Angel Fund - Heart or Cancer.
