Obituaries of Frank Robbins Pancake
1916-2003
Daily News Leader, Staunton, Virginia, September 25, 2003
Frank R. Pancake, 87
STAUNTON - Frank Robbins Pancake, of Waverly Green, died Tuesday (Sept. 23, 2003) at his home. He was born Aug. 12, 1916, at Staunton, to William Calvin and Frank (Robbins) Pancake. He retired as a colonel from the United States Air Force, he was commandant of Virginia Military Institute, he served as a council member and mayor for the City of Staunton, and he was a professor of Political Science and Foreign Affairs at Mary Baldwin College.
Mr. Pancake was preceded in death by his parents a brother, John Silas Pancake and a son, William Robbins Pancake. Survivors include his wife, Grace-George (Koehler) Pancake a son, Richard Robbins Pancake of Washington, D.C. a daughter, Meredith Meade Pancake of Berryville and a sister, Julia Wilson Rankin of Cramerton, N.C.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Frederick St. Burial will be at Thornrose Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hamrick Funeral Home.
Richmond, Virginia Times-Dispatch, September 26, 2003
FRANK ROBBINS PANCAKE DIES
FORMER STAUNTON MAYOR WAS A LEADER IN GOP
As a young man enrolled in pilot school with war on the horizon in the late 1930s, Frank Robbins Pancake "really wanted to fly and serve his country," said his son, Richard Robbins Pancake of Washington.
He was able to do both.
Mr. Pancake, a former mayor of Staunton who served on the faculties of Virginia Military Institute and Mary Baldwin College, died of complications of heart problems Tuesday at his home in Staunton. He was 87.
Mr. Pancake was a native of Staunton and valedictorian of the VMI class of 1938.
During World War II, he served as a B-29 pilot in the Pacific theater and earned the Silver Star. He would go on to serve in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years, including posts in France, Panama and at the Pentagon.
In 1950, he returned to VMI as professor of air science and tactics. He served as VMI's Commandant of Cadets from 1951 to 1954, before leaving to serve at the National War College in Washington. During his Washington years, Mr. Pancake earned a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University in 1963. He did graduate work at the war college and at Washington & Lee University Law School.
He retired in 1966 as vice commander of the U.S. Air Force Southeastern Command, which includes the Caribbean and Central and South America.
After he retired, Mr. Pancake earned a doctorate in foreign affairs at the University of Virginia in 1969 and that year returned to his hometown, joining the Mary Baldwin faculty as assistant professor of political science. He later was an associate professor.
He served on the Staunton City Council for several years, including a term as mayor from 1974-76, said city spokesman Doug Cochran.
A founding member and former president of the Historic Staunton Foundation, he was instrumental in starting renovation and preservation of downtown Staunton. The foundation saved the Wharf area near the railroad station and the area around the city's old warehouse, which now houses antiques businesses, shops and cafes.
Mr. Pancake also was instrumental in having one Bradford pear tree for each Staunton military veteran of the 20th century planted at one approach to the city, his son said.
James Lott, a retired Mary Baldwin professor, said his late colleague "thought in terms of the duty we owe to our country, state, and city. He lived that out very strongly."
Mr. Pancake had served as a trustee of Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and was a former president of the Kiwanis Club of Staunton. He had been a leader in the Augusta County Republican Party.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Pancake, a tennis enthusiast who had a collection of trophies, served as director of the annual Staunton Leader Tennis Tournament.
He was an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Staunton.
In addition to his son, survivors include his wife of 61 years, Grace-George "GG" Koehler Pancake; a daughter, Meredith Meade Pancake of Berryville; a sister, Julia "Tee" Wilson Rankin of Cramerton, N.C.; and a granddaughter.
A funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Staunton. Burial, with full military honors, will be in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton.
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