Franklin McCool Lum

Franklin McCool Lum, age 84, of Newark, Delaware, formerly of Chesapeake City, Maryland, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware, surrounded by the love of his family. 

Born on October 13, 1941, in Chesapeake City, Maryland, Frank was the son of the late Melvin and Mary Lum. Chesapeake City was not only where Frank was born, but also where he built a life rooted in God, family, friendship, and service to others. He was a man whose kindness, generosity, and warm smile touched countless lives throughout the community he loved so deeply. 

Frank loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart. For him, going to church was the highlight of his week. He went to praise the Lord and to be a true servant for Christ, but he also loved the wonderful fellowship it brought into his life. Serving as the Head Usher every Sunday morning was a duty he held close to his heart and viewed as an absolute privilege. It allowed him to stand at the doors of God’s house and make lifelong best friends with the other men who served alongside him. 

Outside of church, Frank's favorite way to connect with people was over a good meal. One of his favorite traditions was going out to breakfast at Jack and Helen’s Restaurant with his family and close friends. It was the perfect setting for him to catch up on the latest town news or toast to someone’s special birthday or life milestone. Always honoring the people in his life and making them feel celebrated. 

Frank enjoyed a long and successful career in banking, retiring as a Branch Manager after many years of dedicated service with Elkton Banking and Trust, County Bank, Mercantile County Bank, and PNC Bank. To Frank, banking was never just about transactions; it was about people. He took pride in helping customers, building relationships, and treating everyone who walked through the door with respect, compassion, and genuine care. His honesty, integrity, and friendly nature earned the trust and admiration of colleagues and customers alike. Frank was a numbers guy through and through. He memorized every family member’s birthday, down to the exact year and history of that day. To keep things simple, he even assigned numbers to his daughters to keep them all straight, happily greeting them and always answering the phone with a booming voice by their official birth rank (“Hi Number 1”). 

A lifelong servant to his community, Frank was a proud lifetime member of the Chesapeake City Volunteer Fire Department and a steadfast supporter of numerous local organizations, such as delivering food for “Meals on Wheels.” He believed in giving back and was always willing to lend a helping hand, offer encouragement, or share a story that could bring a smile to someone's face. Whether through community involvement, friendships, or simple acts of kindness, Frank made people feel welcomed and valued. He proudly served as the Tuesday night Bingo “caller” at the firehouse. A position that allowed him to do what he did best: entertain his friends, share a few jokes, and bring immense fun, joy, and laughter to everyone in the room. 

Known affectionately as the Jam Man, Frank found great joy in making and sharing his homemade jams with family, friends, neighbors, and anyone lucky enough to receive a jar. No one was a stranger to him for long, and he had a gift for turning ordinary moments into lasting memories. He also enjoyed gathering with friends and spending time outdoors, but nothing brought him greater happiness than being surrounded by his family.

Frank was a devoted husband, a proud father, and an adoring grandfather and great- grandfather. He loved attending his daughter's softball games, cheering them on from the sidelines, and celebrating their accomplishments. His family was the center of his world, and he cherished every opportunity to gather around the table, share a meal, tell stories, and create memories together. His Maryland Beaten Biscuits became famous among family and friends and were always made with the same ingredient that defined his life, which was love. 

Those who knew Frank will remember his generous heart, his quick wit, his unwavering loyalty, and his ability to make everyone feel like family. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, laughter, and love that will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. HE.WAS.LEGENDARY…. 

Frank is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Beverly A. Lum of Chesapeake City, Maryland; his daughters, Tammi Wahlig of Fair Hill, Maryland, Tracy Imperatrice (Robert Jr) of Middletown, Delaware, JoLynn Bunting (Wen) of Lewes, Delaware, Jennifer Ketchiff (Price) of Princeton, New Jersey, and Tiffany Biddle (Matthew) of Aberdeen, Maryland. His stepson also survives him, David Walker of Conowingo, Maryland, and his sister, Mary Porter of Bel Air, Maryland. 

Preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Edward Lum, Sr., and Mary Evelyn Kirkpatrick Lum, and his brothers Melvin Lum, Jr., Patrick Lum, Jack Lum, and Eugene Lum. 

Frank was the proud grandfather of 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought immeasurable joy and pride to his life.

 Rest in LOVE, Dad…. 

Family and friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Crouch Funeral Home, P.A., North East, Maryland. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow at North East Methodist Cemetery, North East, Maryland.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Volunteer Fire Company No.1 of Chesapeake City Inc., 215 Lock Street, Chesapeake City, Maryland 21915. 

Though Franklin's presence will be deeply missed, the love he shared, the lives he touched, and the example he set will remain a lasting blessing to his family, friends, and community for generations to come.

 To offer condolences, visit: https://www.crouchfuneralhome.com/obituaries