Frank Henry Oliver

Frank Henry Oliver, Tunkhannock, went to be with the Lord on August 3, 2025. He was 76 years old.

Frank was born October 5, 1948, in Nanticoke, PA. He graduated from Hanover Memorial High School in 1966 and went on to earn academic degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie-Mellon University and Columbia University.

His doctoral dissertation was recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support for Education (CASE) and the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel Trust for Philanthropy (AAFRC) with the Grenzebach Research Award for Educational Advancement.

Frank started his professional career with the Wyoming County Press and wrote a weekly opinion column during a volatile period of time that included a war in Viet Nam, national division, and social unrest. In 1976 he started The Farmers Friend newspaper to serve the agricultural community of Northeast Pennsylvania.

Frank left the newspaper business, in 1970s to work in the vineyards of philanthropy. He started his new career as a writer and public relations representative for non-profit, charitable institutions. He quickly advanced to directing major capital campaigns for health systems, higher education and cultural institutions. His fund-raising career took him across the continent -- from Seattle to San Juan and from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles.

Most of Frank’s work, however, focused closer to home in Pennsylvania and New York. Frank also served Wyoming County charities with pride and pleasure:

In 1978 he counseled chairman Judd Fitz for a capital campaign to build Tunkhannock United Methodist Church’s education building on Marion Street.

In 2001 Frank counseled Susan Turrell and Elaine Walker organize a capital campaign to build a new Tunkhannock Library on West Tioga Street.

He helped the Dietrich Theater with two capital campaigns. The first campaign enabled the purchase the Theater’s adjacent lot, demolish a condemned gas station, and expand The Dietrich into that property with new construction for cultural and entertainment offerings. However, a second campaign was needed in 2019. It focused on the Dietrich Cultural Center’s need to pay down debt, from unforeseen environmental effects left behind by underground pollution from gas storage tanks.

Frank’s final campaign in Tunkhannock was in 20 to help Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen purchase and renovate its current building on Warren Street.

Frank was an ardent Christian, and was an occasional guest speaker at the Lake Carey Chapel, at the Askam Methodist Church, and the Community Bible Church in Tunkhannock.

Frank leaves behind Merriel Sutton Oliver his wife of 45 years, sister Audrey Wysowski and her husband Vince, daughter Lucinda (Cindy) Oliver and partner Dave Rees, daughter Erin Jones and husband Dan, son Paul Oliver and wife Elizabeth. As well, he leaves behind his beloved grandchildren Kelsey Jones, Dariane Jones, Josh Oliver, Brayden Jones, Noah Oliver, Sutton Oliver and Warner Oliver.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Interment Sunnyside Cemetery. For on-line condolences please visit www.aplitwinfuneralhomes.com