Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Frank Hartman

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Frank Hartman, 78, of Clarksburg, Tenn, died peacefully January 26, 2025 with his wife, Debbie. 

Frank was born on October 5, 1946, in Nashville, Tenn.. When he was young, his family moved to a farm in Shackle Island, Tenn., where he grew up with his brothers and sisters. He attended Hendersonville High School, class of 1964,  In 1967, he married Pamela Kizer and had their daughter, Heather and son, Patrick.

Frank would tell others that it was his privilege to have served over 30 years with the US Air Force and defend this great country. In 1966, he enlisted as an aircraft electrician, and his first duty assignment was in the Netherlands. While he truly loved working on aircrafts, he decided to leave the Air Force and enroll in Middle Tennessee State University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science.

While he had dreams of becoming a veterinarian, the allure of the military life and flying was too much for him. In 1973, he returned to the US Air Force as a newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and became qualified as an Electronic Warfare Officer in AC-130 Spectre Gunships. Throughout his time in the military, he would move on to the F-105G"Thud”, the EF-111 "SparkVark”, and finally the MC-130H Combat Talon ll where he culminated his Air Force career as a Lieutenant Colonel. Throughout his career he supported military combat operations throughout the world, to include Libya, Iraq, and Bosnia.

Frank received his graduate degree in Education Systems Management from Chapman University in1982.

In 2004, he lost his wife, Pam, to cancer.

Following his military retirement, he went to work as the Foreign Materiel Command Officer for CACI at Eglin AFB, FL, where he eventually met his wife, Debbie. Shortly after they married, they moved to Ramstein AB Germany where he worked as a tour guide. He took many tour groups to France, The Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Egypt, Czech Republic, and Romania.

Never one to sit idle at home and desiring to help others in need, he served his church, Huntingdon First United Methodist, in multiple roles, and volunteered at the Dixie. His most rewarding role, though, was in leading the Tennessee River Disaster Response Team for the United Methodist Conference. While his muscles would ache after days of cutting trees and hauling debris, he was truly thankful he was able to help in the relief efforts in Adamsville, Stantonville, Waverly, and Dresden. He felt that this was the least he could do
for those so greatly impacted by Mother Nature.

Frank had two outdoor passions - golfing and fishing. He looked forward to playing a round of golf with his church buddies at the different golf courses. Twice a year he would load his backpack with the bare necessities and meet up with his son, son-in-law, brothers-in-law, and nephews and fish for reds and trout in the brackish waters of Louisiana. It was not uncommon for them to have to use bungee cords to keep the coolers closed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin Crockett Hartman and Virginia Elna Ewer Hartman; brothers, Major Benjamin Crockett “Pat” Hartman, Jr. and Fred Arthur Hartman; and his late wife, Pamela Gail Kizer.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Hartman; his children, Heather (Todd) Welsh of Woodbridge, VA; Pat (Jen) Hartman of Clovis, NM; step-children, Jacqueline Clinger of Shalimar, FL; Brad (Kristin) Clinger of O’Fallon, IL; and grandchildren, Kailee Welsh, Carli and Sam Hartman, Ella Grace Clinger, Nathan and Ava Clinger; siblings, Dianne (Gaylon) Crawford of Somerville, TN; Debra (Bob) Schamberg of Joelton, TN; and Mike (Cindy) Hartman of Hendersonville, TN; and numerous cousins and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church, with Bro. Tim Atkins officiating. Burial will follow at Old Beech Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery, in Hendersonville, at 2:30 P.M.

The family will receive friends in the Cherrywood Room of Chase Funeral Home on Thursday from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., with a Masonic Service at 7:00 P.M. and on Friday from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at First United Methodist Church. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors, Tunnel to Towers or Hospice of West Tennes