Lt. Col. Frank M. Rasbury, Jr. embodied leadership, virtue and service

Saga CommunicationsA memorial service was held for U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frank M. Rasbury, Jr. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Ocala on, Aug. 1, 2025. Courtesy: Ben Baugh/352today. ben-baugh-352-today

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – U.S. Army, retired, Lt. Col. Frank M. Rasbury embodied the spirit of leadership and service. ‘

The Ocala resident passed away on July 24, 2025, at the age of 97, and a memorial service was held for Lt. Col. Rasbury Aug. 1, 2025, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Ocala.

Lt. Col. Rasbury was born in Buffalo, N.Y., attended both Los Angeles City College and UCLA, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, remaining active duty for more than two decades, and would rise from the rank of private to Lt. Colonel, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, earning several decorations.

William Dorsey, Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, retired, and Marion County Memorial Honor Guard chaplain, read the 23rd Psalm during the memorial service.

Rasbury’s relentless pursuit of service earned both he and his wife Naida the term professional volunteers. Rasbury’s direct approach and willingness to meet all challenges head-on, his leadership skills and commitment to serving the community, were among those qualities and attributes that drew the admiration of those who knew him and came in contact with him. He was firm, effective and consistent, placing an emphasis on organization.

The Rotarians four-way test that Rasbury lived by resonated powerfully with all of those he touched during the course of his life, ‘Is it truth?’ ‘Is it fair to all those concerned?’ ”Will it build good will and better friendships?’ and ‘Will it be beneficial to all concerned?’ He knew those questions and lived those virtuous ways, said Rev. Jeremy Knight, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

To the left, empty seats, two American flags, a video screen and organ pipes in the background, A cross in the middle and to the right more flags, another video screen and organ pipes. There are men behind the lecterns with microphones, on the left a man dressed in a suit, on the right a man dressed in a military uniform behind a lectern with a microphone. In front of them men in military uniforms, floral arrangements, a portrait of a man, and a table with items. In front of them in the foreground people seated in pews.
A memorial service was held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for U.S. Army L.t Col. Frank M. Rasbury on Aug. 1, 2025. Courtesy: Ben Baugh/352today

Knight shared that he has received a deep volume of emails from those who no longer live in the area, from those who say that Frank and Naida were the first to greet them, and the first warm faces they would see, and they knew from those experience that St. Paul’s was a welcoming environment.

“The Rasburys received a letter recently from another leader who was deeply shaped by Frank, his name is Dale Moe, he was a fellow Rotarian,” said Knight. “He shared stories, and whenever he went to seek Frank’s council, as he became a leader of his particular area of Rotary, in the letter it states, ‘Frank’s advice to me was very clear and simple, ‘Lead,’ Frank shared with me the importance of developing relationships, overcoming obstacles with performance, of doing the job to the best of your abilities.’ Mr. Moe went onto say this, ‘in my very brief short time with Frank. I learned more from him than if I were to read 10 books on leadership.'”

Rasbury was the Rotary’s Observer to the United Nations in 1985 and 1986. Rasbury and his wife Naida worked selflessly for organizations in Ocala, having moved to the area in 1987. Rasbury served as the Kingdom of the Sun Chapter of the Retired Officers Association, which is now known as the Military Officers Association of America chapter president in 1992 and 1993.

Internment was held at the Florida National Cemetary in Bushnell, FL