Frank Hart
Frank Hart (Elmer Franklin Hart), 79, passed away in Roanoke, Va., early Sunday, December 24, 2023.
He was born on August 11, 1944, in Lexington, Ky., to the late Elmer Bayse Hart and Nada Amburgey Hart. He was a man of the people who loved his family, his friends, his neighbors, his students, his colleagues, his golf buddies, his Hokies, his Bluefield State, and his communities, especially Wise, Bluefield, and Salem, Va. He never met a stranger and was always trying to connect with others to find out what they had in common and how he could help them.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol Morgan Hart of Salem, Va.; his daughter, Tonya Hart of Salem, Va., his daughter, Angie (David) Keyser of Hot Springs, Va.; his son, Paul Hart of Charlotte, N.C.; and his very beloved grandchildren, Mason, Kendall, and Matthew Keyser. He is also survived by his sister, Sharon (Byron) Spencer of Boones Mill, Va.; his sister, Rebecca (John) Mosolgo of Lexington, Ky., his brother, David (Hope) Hart of Big Stone Gap, Va.; his special cousin, Edgar (Mary Jo) Abel of Bardstown, Ky.; his sister-in-law, Brenda (the late Walter) Bandy of Salem, Va.; and his brother-in-law, Dennis Morgan of Staunton, Va.
Frank lived an active and large life. He seemed to embody the words from his favorite poem by always choosing “the road less traveled by.” After graduating high school from JJ Kelly in Wise, Va., in 1962, he ventured to Virginia Tech to graduate with a Masters in Civil Engineering. Frank then began teaching at Bluefield State College in Bluefield, W.Va., for the next 44 years. Through his involvement in engineering and education he traveled the world and visited a multitude of countries on six continents. His travels also took him to all 50 states. As often as possible family members enjoyed traveling with him and enjoyed the adventure as well. The love of traveling and exploring “made all the difference” in the exciting life he created for his family.
Frank dedicated his professional life to education. He had many professional accomplishments including being the Dean of Engineering and Technology at Bluefield State, the President of the International Society of Mine Surveyors, and more recently a team chair and program evaluator with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Outside of work and helping students, Frank was most passionate about sports and competition in most any form and level. He was an avid Hokie fan who traveled to 30 bowl games and had season tickets for 35+ years. He also loved watching high school sports and followed Graham High School and Bath County High School in addition to any team a neighbor or his numerous nieces or nephews played on. His favorite professional sport was baseball and he traveled to over 12 baseball stadiums with his family. When the weather was not too hot, he could be found on the golf course, most likely Hanging Rock in Salem, Va.
Most of all though, Frank loved a simple life. Adventure and traveling were important to him, but material possessions were not. He enjoyed a cup of coffee on the back porch, watching birds, listening to frogs, reading newspapers, researching his genealogy, and growing beans. These simple activities, along with his family and friends, gave him the most pleasure.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel in Salem, Va. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, also in the chapel, with an additional period of visitation taking place one hour prior. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke, Va.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), Bluefield State University scholarship fund for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), or a local youth or high school sports team. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
