Frank L. Rote - Ford Retiree and Grape Farmer - March 21, 1922 - August 24, 2012 Frank L. Rote, of Gowanda, died Friday in Buffalo General Hospital of complications from pneumonia. He was 90. He was the son of Karol and Franciska (Petric) Rote and was raised in wood camps around Johnsonburg, PA. He was the beloved husband of the late
Elvina (Beanie) Korbar and lived in Gowanda for the past 66 years. Mr. Rote was a World War II Army veteran and served in the European Theater from 1943 to 1946.
He retired from the Buffalo Ford Stamping Plant as a tool and die welder in 1988, and was a Local 897 UAW member. He also worked for the Peter Cooper Glue Factory, ALCO and local construction companies. Additionally, he was a grape farmer and wine maker. He enjoyed his Slovenian heritage and joyfully played the button box accordion for family and friends. He was a member of the Slovenian Club of Gowanda, the Gowanda VFW and the American Legion Post 409. He was the dear father of Frank (Diana) of Alta
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Frank L. Rote
Loma, CA; Gail (Greg Maley) of Alexandria, VA; Rudy (Ann) of Rockville, MD; and Ronald (Vicki) of Lancaster, PA; beloved grandfather to Frank Jr, Michael, Ryan, Devin,
Nicole and Alyssa; and great grandfather to Frank III and Brielle. He was the dear brother to Ann Mack of Streetsboro, OH; and preceded in death by Charles of Freeman, WA;
Mary Grzely of Painesville, OH; and Matthew of Gowanda, NY. Family and friends are invited to call at Mentley Funeral Home Inc., 105 East Main St. on Monday from 2
to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. from St. Joseph's RC Church in Gowanda, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gowanda Ambulance.
