Obituary of Frank Faucett

Frank Webb Faucett went to be with His Lord and Savior surrounded by loved ones on Friday July 7th, 2023. He was born in Pueblo, Colorado on June 13, 1928. Raised in the southeast of Colorado, in Las Animas, Frank was the youngest of six children, all brothers. Frank’s father owned a laundry and dry-cleaning business and a 640-acre farm, and a farmhouse with no electricity, running water or plumbing that Frank never forgot. The family moved from the farm into the small town, one block from the laundry, when Frank was about seven or eight years old.
Frank was brought up working on the farm when the weather was good and working in the laundry when it wasn’t. He and his brothers cultivated one hundred acres of corn three times each summer, with a single row cultivator and a team of horses. All the brothers worked on the farm at one time or another. The Faucetts raised their children in the Methodist church. Frank’s dad Ben taught Sunday school and his mom, Grace, sang solos at funerals and in the choir. They took good care of the children, and each member of the family developed a strong work ethic. The brothers all played a lot of sports, mostly softball. In high school Frank followed his two older brothers and played football. He and older brother Glenn played on the same high school team for two years. Frank was born shortly before the Great Depression. He remembers World War II well because three of his older brothers went into the service during that war. Thankfully, all three came back safely. War rationing had a lot of effect on the boys as they grew up. Things like food, gasoline and tires were rationed. The speed limit was 35 mph everywhere, even on the highway. Because of the farm, they were allowed some extra gas.
Frank was still in high school when the war ended. He graduated in 1947 and went to Colorado A&M on a partial football scholarship, paying for his own books, room and board. Freshmen were not eligible for varsity, so he began varsity in his sophomore year. He kicked extra points, kicked field goals and played halfback. His team was the first to go to a bowl game in 1948—the Raisin bowl in Fresno, California. They had “some pretty good teams”; they were 8–2 in his Sophomore and Junior years. Frank held the scoring record at CSU for some thirty years. He said he had an advantage because of the different positions he played. Frank remained a dedicated CSU football fan for his entire life.
Frank was a senior in college in 1950 when he met Barbara Beard, a freshman. He first started going to church with her in 1951 when the congregation of Saint John’s was meeting in the military building on campus. Shortly after graduating with a BS in Physical Education in May of 1951. Frank received a notice from the President of the United States with an invitation to join the service. The Korean War had begun. He accepted the invitation, and Frank and Barb got married sooner than originally planned. The church building was still under construction at that time, so Pastor Meyer (the pastor of Saint John’s at the time) officiated their wedding at Bethlehem Lutheran in Fort Collins on August 18, 1951.
Frank went into the service on September 4, 1951, two weeks after the wedding, leaving Barb in Fort Collins. He went through basic training near Fort Riley, Kansas. After basic training, Frank applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted, attending training at Fort Knox where he became a second lieutenant. During that time, their first child, Steve, was born and Frank had to wait until graduation over a month later to meet his first son. He then was able to take Barb and Steve with him until he got out of the military in October 1953. They moved back to Fort Collins and stayed with Barb’s parents until Frank could find a job and get reestablished in Fort Collins. From 1955 to 1961, he and Barb had four more children: Susie, Tim, Mike and Robert.
Frank wanted a teaching job, but October was a bad time to look for a school position, so he went to work for Guarantee Reserve Life Insurance where Barb’s father was an actuary. Barb’s parents were members of Saint John’s since moving to Fort Collins from Chicago, and Frank went to adult instruction to become a member. He remembers that Barb’s dad went to instruction class with him. He worked in insurance for a year and a half, until being hired at Fort Collins High School. Frank taught American History, was assistant football coach, head wrestling coach and tennis coach. Later, he was also the track coach. Within nine years, Frank became the head football coach and assistant wrestling coach. In 1963, Frank earned his master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. After nine years as head football coach, he became Dean of Students at Fort Collins High. Frank spent nine years as Dean, then went back to college again and got a license as an administrator. He was an assistant principal for five years. Frank retired in 1988 after 33 years at Fort Collins High School.
After retirement, Frank began working as chairman of the Trustees at Saint John’s, which he called the perfect job. He and Barb have always been active in the church. Frank and his lovely wife Barb were married 71 years.
Frank is preceded in death by his mom Grace and father Ben, his brothers Gilbert, Leonard, Kenneth, Ben and Glenn, and his great grandson Cooper. He is survived by his wife Barbara, children Steve (Evelyn), Sue Lussenhop (John), Tim (Wendy), Mike (Andrea), and Rob (Melita), as well as 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church 305 E. Elizabeth St., Fort Collins, CO 80524, website stjohnsfc.org.

Follow this link for livestreaming of the service, if you are unable to attend in person. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBe0oGnPo4Y