Rest in Peace Uncle Frank

Frank Malit Paule Sr.
United States Navy Retired, Vietnam War Veteran
My father's oldest and only brother
Passed away July 6, 2008
He was 76 years of age.

3 Generations of Paule's in the picture below, taken the day before Uncle passed:

1st generation - Bernardo (Dad) and Uncle Frank
2nd generation - Marvin
3rd generation - Maximilian (21 months old)



That 4th of July weekend when the picture was taken, my Dad and his brother Frank sat on the couches you see in the picture. This was at my Auntie Aimee's house (my Dad and Uncle's youngest sister). The first night when Uncle Frank came over he and Dad stayed up until 3 AM talking, catching up on old times even when the lights went out. In fact, when morning came, Uncle told my Dad that he was mad at him. My Dad asked why. He said because he was still talking and Dad just started snoring. My Dad explained that he fell asleep because he just took his medicine and it makes him drowsy. My Dad later told me that they only maybe once ever did that - stay up and talk all night until they fell asleep. Growing up, by the time my Dad was 5 or 6, Uncle Frank already left for Manila to go to school.

That morning, Auntie told me to tell Uncle Frank that we were going to plan a reunion in the Philippines, next fiesta time in honor of their father (my grandpa) Francisco Paule. When I told that to Uncle Frank, he asked if I knew that my grandpa was fond of women and he has maybe 20 or more children? I said yes and told him that my Dad helped me with a family tree some time ago (http://paulefamily.tribalpages.com/). I showed him the family tree on my laptop and he helped me correct a few things - names of family members that my Dad didn't know.

Later, he asked me if I got everything I needed for the family tree. I told him I did and I would get more details with help from my cousin Raibyn. Then he began to tell me maybe 3 or 4 stories all in a row - about his childhood, about his time in the Navy and how he was proud of his oldest son Frank Jr. who also a Navy Veteran passed away last year. He said he received one achievement in the Navy but Frank Jr. received 5 and he was very proud of him for that.

All my relatives were in a hurry that morning to go to the beach, and they tried to give me the eye as to say cut away from the conversation with Uncle, we need to go now. But I just stayed and listened to him until the very last minute and let him talk. I'm glad I did. It gave me good memories of him.

My fondest childhood memory of Uncle Frank was when I was 9 or 10 and we were visiting at his house in San Diego, his sons were into dirt bikes and they had a Honda Z50 mini trail bike that the boys outgrew. He let me have it and we took it home to Milpitas in our van. I had great memories riding that trailbike around our front yard before the yard was landscaped. After going in an oval over and over again, it turned into a dirt track. And especially the time I was riding down Jacklin Avenue, a major street in Milpitas with my sister Minnie riding on the back and we got pulled over by the police. We had no license plate and that trailbike was probably not legal for the street. Anyway, I'll remember Uncle for giving me the minbike and having those fun times.

We'll miss you Uncle. You had a tough life some times but you were strong and we are glad we were able to spend time with you in your last days here. Hopefully, you felt before you left us that we love you very much. You had a smile on your face and you were happy to be with family. You remind us not to take life for granted. There is no time for arguing, fighting or bickering. We should spend and enjoy our time together and not let petty things get in the way and make us lose time. Safe travels, Uncle. You'll be missed and remembered.