Walter Wayne Frank, affectionately known as “Wally”, was born in New York City on August 22, 1948, to Millard Walter Filmore Frank and Myrtle G. (Saunders) Frank. He attended New York City Public Schools and graduated from Dewitt Clinton High School. Upon his graduation from High School, he went on to study at the RCA Institute in New York City. Upon his completion of classes at RCA, Wally went on to work for the Federal Government. He purposely went for positions whereby he would be exempt from going off to fight in the Vietnam War, but life took an unexpected twist.
Wally was drafted by the United States Marine Corp and served until he was Honorably Discharged on June 16, 1975. Serving in the Navy’s Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), using his knowledge of computers, telecommunications, electronics, and radio communications, Wally played a pivotal role with the Marine Corps as a lifeline between the service members in Vietnam and their families at home. Upon his discharge from the Marine Corp, Wally went on to continue his Federal Service.
Wally worked for the Department of Defense as a Systems Engineer and retired from the National Security Agency (NSA) after 40 years of federal service on February 2, 2007. He received an award for outstanding contributions, achievements, and dedication to the United States Cryptologic effort from July 1999 through February 2007. He also received the Director, National Security Agency and Chief, Central Security Service Director’s Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of exceptional distinguished service, unsurpassed leadership, and support to the NSA mission presented on February 1, 2007. This award has been received by only a few NSA employees.
Wally Frank, WA3RWP, has a long history of involvement with Amateur Radio (nicknamed Ham Radio). Wally became an Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) in 1964 when he received his Technician License as WB2OVV in New York City. He held an FCC amateur radio license for over 61 years, to include the highest level amateur Extra Class license which he earned in March 1985. Wally has a long history of giving back through Amateur Radio. Wally has helped new Hams in so many ways that they can’t all be listed here. Wally has always been involved in his community’s Emergency Preparedness Programs and the best example is James City County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). His success with training the CERT members to become Licensed Hams led him to volunteering as the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club’s (WAARC) Training Coordinator. His creative instructional approaches, and his hands-on approach to explaining the systems, ensured all students passed their exam. And, after his students got licensed, he followed through with helping them get on the air, selecting equipment to accomplish their goals, and setting up their radio stations.
In his early years, Wally was very active in Ham groups in the Maryland area. He was a member of the OMIK Electronics Association. Black Hams from the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky formed OMIK because membership in many Ham organizations was denied to black Hams. This need was identified by the OMIK Association and continued to be an important aspect of the clubs Wally associated with. Wally was also one of the earliest members of the Green Mountain Repeater Association. He was instrumental in helping to install the repeater in Maryland. Wally was a Life Member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). ARRL is the national association for Ham Radio.
One thing Wally was quite proud of was his relationship with Jesus Christ. Wally was saved and spent many years in service in various roles in various churches. At Riverdale Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Wally served as a Trustee and First Grade Boys’ Sunday School Teacher. At New Life Assembly in Capitol Heights, Maryland, Wally served as a Deacon and was responsible for leading the team that was responsible for finding a replacement for the retired founder of that church, while continuing to keep the church viable and operating successfully. Most recently, at James City Community Church (JC3) in Williamsburg, Virginia, Wally served as a member of the Finance Team. He also set up a remote-controlled car station for the church and community kids during the annual Spring Flings and Fall Festivals. The kids loved the activity and challenges. In February 2025, Wally won the 2025 Chili Bowl Cook Off at JC3. He proudly displayed the beautiful first place champion ring that he won on his desk in his Ham Shack.
Wally’s family and many friends love him and will greatly miss him. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Cynthia Frank; his son and daughter-in-law Rodney and Angela Frank; grandchildren Alexis, William, Brianna, Taylor and Christian; brother-in-law and his wife Jermerial and Charlene Edmonds, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as a large number of friends.
