Eugene "Frank" Tracas

Eugene “Frank” Tracas, age 92, passed away on Sunday March 11, 2018.

Mr. Tracas was born March 8, 1926, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to the late James and Rebecca Mouros Tracas. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, John and George, and sisters, Georgia, Freda, and Helen.

Frank is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Connie Tracas, Cleveland, GA; granddaughter, Sheena Wright, Cleveland, GA.; brother, Sam, and sister, Alice, California.

Frank was born on March 8, 1926 in Mishawaka, Indiana to Greek immigrant parents. His father from Tripoli, Greece and his mother from Kalamata, Greece. He had three brothers and four sisters and he was the 6th of eight children. He continued to excel at school and was in the top ten percent of his large graduating class at Mishawaka High School.

He went through the Great Depression and worked at an early age. In Junior H.S. he with his younger brother, Sam, worked for the City in the summers, riding their bikes and pulling a wagon to go to the City children’s swimming pools to drain the pools and used a large cleaning broom to sweep the bottom, secured the place and continued to the next pool across town. His other odd jobs included mowing the golfing green in nearby Michigan for a businessman, working in grocery stores and finally in high school worked as a janitor after school and all day Saturdays. During his junior year he worked after school from 4-12 PM in a war production factory (US Rubber and Woolen Mfg. Co.)

At the age of 18 he served in the US Navy during WWII. The Navy sent him to Northwestern University where he became qualified as a Radioman and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in the active war zones in the Southwest Pacific and the Coast of Japan. His three brothers also served in WWII. Frank was present at the Japanese surrender ceremony at end of the war at Tokyo (as well as his brother, John, on the USS Independence). Later he attended the University of California in Berkeley and worked 4 hours after school assembling professional camera stands.

He married Jessie Waters, a pretty school teacher at Gomer School in Suisun, CA. He was the proud father of his son, Sam. Frank partnered with his wife, Jessie and they opened two baby clothing stores in Northern CA called “Sammy R’s”. Frank was a member of the First Methodist Church in Mishawaka, IN. He was an outstanding tennis player, enjoyed downhill snow skiing with his son, sports and ball room dancing.

Frank loved his country. From a poor immigrant family, he demonstrated that you could work and get educated and become successful in life. He and his wife Jessie were role models for their son in practicing good citizenship. Frank is a member of "The Greatest Generation" who lived thru the Great Depression and World War II. 

The family will receive friends 12-3 p.m. Wednesday March 14, 2018 at the funeral home.

To share a memory of Mr. Tracas or send a condolence please visit barrettfh.com.