By Staff
Mr. Frank Marcrum Sommerkamp, III, 84, of 104 Mullica Drive, Chocowinity, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Beaufort County Hospital.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Mother of Mercy Catholic Church with Father M. Arturo Cabra officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Honorary pallbearers include Jerry Sommerkamp, Michael Deans, Steven Deans, Mike Gwynn, Richard Robinson, Charles Lueck, and Keith Bassett.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2008 at Hillside Funeral Service, 4500 Highway 264 East, Washington, NC.
Mr. Sommerkamp was born September 13, 1923 in Washington, D.C. He was the son of the late Frank M. Sommerkamp, II and Loretto Cole Sommerkamp. He married Helen Williamson Murphy on January 27, 1973.
Mr. Sommerkamp served as a pilot in Europe during WWII with the 8th Army Air Corps. On a photo-con mission over Germany, as a 13th Squadron pilot, Lt. Sommerkamp, in an F-5, was attacked by six Focke-Wulf 190’s. His plane was damaged beyond repair, but he though wounded, returned to his English base and saved the photos. For his mission he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, presented by Col. Elliott Roosevelt.
He retired from his position as the Senior Assistant Post Master General in Research and Technology with the U.S. Postal Service in 1980.
He served on the advisory board of the Salvation Army, Friends of the Brown Library, Knights of Columbus, member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, lector at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, and President of Moms &Pops at Mother of Mercy.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Williamson Sommerkamp; three daughters, Kathy Sommerkamp and Ella Jean Sommerkamp, both of Waco, TX, and Marie Smith and husband, Danny of Aurora, NC; two sons, James Phillips of Hurdle Mills, NC, and Joseph Phillips of Wilson, NC; three sisters, Mary Nencioni and husband, Albert of Fairfax, VA, Kathryn Beij and husband, Pierce of Holderness, NH; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and many loved nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Richard Sommerkamp and a sister, Doris S. Sears.
You may share a memory with the family and view Mr. Sommerkamp’s video tribute by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com.
Hillside Funeral Service of Washington is serving the Sommerkamp family.
Paid Obituary