Frankie Painter

Frankie Painter, 85, of Cleveland passed away Sunday, May 31, 2020 at her home following a long illness. Frankie loved many activities, reading, crossword puzzles, going to the casinos, watching television, especially NBA basketball, and tennis sports in general. Her greatest love, other than her family and animals was bowling. Frankie was an active bowler for 55 years, and a charter member of the Cleveland Women’s Bowling Association. She served as President of the Cleveland Group for 4 years and was a member of the board of directors for over 30 years, and was president of the Tuesday Night Women’s League for 30 years. She served on the State Board of Directors of the Tennessee 600 Club for 2 years and was President of the Cleveland 600 club for 16 years.

Frankie did not miss a Tennessee Women’s State tournament for 55 years and received a plaque for her accomplishment.  She won the Tennessee State Doubles Tournament with her friend, Thelma McKinney and won the Senior Olympics Gold Medal one year with her friend, Ann Goodwin in the doubles in Chattanooga. She bowled in the National Women’s Tournament, making trips with her daughter and bowling family all over the United States for 32 years. Her team placed 10^th in the Women’s National’s Tournament one time. The national organization was called WIBC at the time. Frankie served as a certified coach for the children of Cleveland in the 70’s, and coached the youth for over 10 years. She taught all of her “kids” to keep score; no automatic scorers were available in those days.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Denver Painter; parents, John and Ruby Dyson Hampton; son-in-law, Alvin C. O’Neil; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and George Marshall Liner; brothers and sisters-in-law, Johnny and Martha Sue Davis Hampton and Freddie and Wanda Brewer Hampton.

Frankie leaves behind a daughter, Denean O’Neil of Cleveland; brother and sister-in-law, Rodney and Dodie Griffin Hampton of Augusta, GA; three special nieces, Judy Liner Stansifer, Cindy Hampton Rayfield and Tina Hampton Poole, her dog, Gabby; her dear friend of 60 years, Berdie Patterson who helped her over the last few years while she was sick; Berdie’s granddaughter, Amber Patterson who Frankie called her God child; her dear friends, Becky and Ken Grizzard and their six grandchildren who she dearly loved and friends, Sherry Stockburger and Florence Canfield who assisted her during her illness.  A  special thanks to Debbie Hooker, her beautician, for all of her kindness and friendship for all of these years to Frankie and her daughter by doing her best to keep an old woman looking as good as she could with what she had to work with to make a miracle happen. She doted on her daughter and “adopted” children, she would just say you are adopted and call them hers.

The funeral will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2020 in the chapel of Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home with Chaplain Susan Harper officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Ralph Bryan, Terry Cranfield, Michael Cranfield, Robbie DeFriece, Wendell DeFriece, Freddy Patterson, Tim Patterson, Tony Bullington, Timmy Maddox, Ken Grizzard, Michael Bostick, Billy Cabrera, and T.J. Rayfield serving as pallbearers.  A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service.

Her family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.

The family suggests memorials be made to Cleveland Bradley USBC Youth in honor of her kids, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the charity of your choice.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Painter family guestbook at www.fikefh.com