Obituary of Francis R. Cullen, Sr.
Francis R. Cullen Sr., Dedicated Family Man and WWII Veteran
Francis (Frank) R. Cullen Sr., age 97, of South Plainfield, NJ passed away at home with family on September 15, 2024. Frank was born on January 30, 1927 in Elizabeth, NJ to Francis and Annabel (Lynch) Cullen. He married Angelina Marie Del Guercio on July 2, 1955. They raised four children, Francis (Jr.), Kevin, Kathleen and Glenn.
Frank was an excellent athlete and baseball player. He pitched in high school, in the Navy and in several competitive industrial leagues. Frank enlisted in the Navy in 1944. During World War II he served on the USS Solomons (CVE-67) and the USS Power (DD-839). Among various duties, Frank was a member of a 40MM anti-aircraft gun crew. Following military service, Frank worked as a skilled machinist and shop foreman. Above all, he valued family. He was a wise and valued mentor. He was a giving and affectionate man most content in the company of his family.
He was tremendously patriotic and proud of his military service and loved vacations with wife, children and grandchildren to places like Gettysburg, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Of all the names and nicknames he had, the one he treasured most was Papa. Frank loved sitting in the situation room to discuss current events and politics of the day and in 2023, he cherished being the WWII Veteran’s Representative to the South Plainfield Labor Day Parade.
Surviving are his wife Angelina, four children Francis Jr. and Patti Cullen of South Plainfield, Kevin and Merri Cullen of Longs, SC, Kathleen and James Genovese of Monroe Township and Glenn and Darlene Cullen of South Plainfield, NJ. Fifteen grandchildren –Courtney, Jimmy, Ryan, Matthew, Kyle, Justin, Chelsea, Tyler, Brendan, Sean, Brian, Tara, Ethan, Sam and Annabel and four great grandchildren – Ariana, Aidan, Raela and Lily.
Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave. South Plainfield, NJ 07080 from 4-8 PM. www.mccriskinfuneralhome.com
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 10 AM in the Church of the Sacred Heart, 149 South Plainfield Ave. South Plainfield. NJ 07080. Interment will follow mass in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to the South Plainfield American Legion Chaumont Post 243 or to the Township of Sunset Beach (NC)Park Bench Program, a place where Frank loved to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Donations can be sent in Frank’s memory, to Town of Sunset Beach, 700 Sunset Blvd., Sunset Beach, NC 28468, attention of Lisa Anglin. In the memo, please indicate donation in memory of Frank Cullen, Bench Program.