Frank Giddings

02/16/2002

Frank Giddings, 85, of 1430 South Branch Parkway, Springfield, formerly of Great Barrington, died Saturday at Sunbridge nursing home of East Longmeadow. Born in Great Barrington on Feb. 25, 1916, son of Marsh B. and Dorothy Lane Giddings, he graduated from the former Searles High School in 1934 and from the RCA Institute in New York City. He also attended Columbia University. He served in the Army during World War II in the South Pacific as a sergeant in the Signal Corps. After the war, he received a bachelor of science degree in education and a master of science degree in vocational education from Fitchburg State Teachers College. He did postgraduate work at the University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Giddings began teaching in 1951 at Springfield Technical Institute, now Springfield Technical Community College, in a postgraduate program of the former Springfield Trade High School. While teaching, he started a radio station at the school that offered vocational training and served as its chief engineer. He was then employed as a professor at Springfield Technical Community College since its founding and served as chairman of the electronics department. He was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Springfield for more than 40 years. He enjoyed amateur radio and was a ham radio operator with the call letters W1GYV. He leaves his wife, the former Helen S. Carlson; a son, David M. Giddings of Sugar Land, Texas; a daughter, Donna M. Giddings of Branford, Conn.; two sisters, Dorothy Staknis and Maryanna Macy, both of Great Barrington; a brother, Edwin Giddings of Las Vegas, and two grandchildren. Calling hours will be Thursday, Feb. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at BYRON FUNERAL HOME, 1858 Allen St., Springfield. Friends and family may meet for a funeral service at the Evangelical Covenant Church Chapel, 915 Plumtree Road, Springfield, on Friday at 1 p.m., with burial to follow in Hillcrest Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the church. For directions and guest book, please visit www.bhfh.com.

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