Frank Jarvis Jr., 84, of Fairhaven died at home Tuesday, November 25, 2014 after a lengthy illness.
A Fairhaven resident for most of his life, he was the son of the late Frank Jarvis and Georgia (Redmond) Jarvis.
Mr. Jarvis graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1947 and joined the U.S. Naval Reserves a few years later. He served on the USS Johnnie Hutchins in the Caribbean, off the shores of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Panama. Upon his return he started working his way up the ladder at New England Telephone and Telegraph from cable splicer climbing telephone poles to a District Manager and Controller of the Physical Plant of all of the New England states, retiring in 1988 after 34 years.
Mr. Jarvis' true passions, however, lay outside of his work. On September 4, 1954 he married the love of his life the late Harriet (Garcia) Jarvis, not even the damage of Hurricane Carol (which took out the bride's front steps and their reception hall) could stop them. Their love brought them a daughter and helped them through Mrs. Jarvis' illnesses. He became her devoted caregiver for the last years of her life and when her death in 2003 ended their 49-year marriage nothing but his own illness could stop him from visiting her gravesite daily.
Mr. Jarvis was also a talented musician, who played the saxophone and the clarinet and sang. He was awarded a scholarship to the Juilliard School after high school, but turned it down so he could support his parents. That didn't stop him from pursing his passion for music; however, he performed with bands all across the South Coast, including The Star Dusters and The Frank Jarvis Quartet.
After his retirement, you could most often find Mr. Jarvis on his boat enjoying the sea air and spending time with his grandchildren.
Mr. Jarvis was also a dedicated parishioner of St. Joseph's Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus McMahon Council.
He is survived by his daughter Roxanne Jarvis Dunlop and her husband Peter Dunlop of Marion, three granddaughters, Nealyn, Hollis, and Kiernan Dunlop; two nieces, two nephews and several cousins.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday at 8 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by his Funeral Mass at St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven at 9 AM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Damien's Place Food Pantry, P.O. Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.