http://www.mundia.com/us/Search/Results ... Only=falseFrank Chapman Kirgan1902 - 1977
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Born: Benicia, Solano, California
Lived in: 1303 Napa Street, Vallejo, Solano, CA (
lived there year 1930)
Died: Fairfield, Solano, California, USA
http://www.mundia.com/us/Person/8560035/1595996763Story: The Music Man1902All Over California
Posted by Carolyn Overton<p>
Frank Chapman Kirgan (my Grandfather) became a "Music Man" sometime before he married Verda Mae Rowe, 1925. He was charged with traveling to small towns all across the Northwest (even as far away as Salt Lake City, UT), to sell band instruments and uniforms to young people who wanted to start a Marching Band, and teaching them to play. I suspect that business people might have sponsored his travel, because these bands were usually named after a local merchant or politician. In addition to his 8th Grade education, he was accompanied by his natural ability to play just about any instrument one set before him. Trumpet, coronet, Saxophone, even cello and piano were but minor challenges. Falk's Band in Nampa, Idaho is one that I can name. Somehow he learned of an empty musician's post on the Matson Lines Luxury ships and became a saxophone in the dance band for about 15 years prior to WWII. The ships traveled from San Francisco to several ports in Hawaii, Australia, Singapore, and others. </p><p>Ancestry.com helped me locate a Census report for "Crews of Vessels" from Matson's<u><em> S. S. Malolo, April 5, 1930</em></u>, with my grandfather's name on line 14. His then address was in Vallejo, CA, but at some point he moved his family to San Francisco, presumably to be closer to them when he returned from his voyages. </p><p>When the U.S. Government took possession of all of the luxury ships to turn them into supply ships, Frank's career as a musician came to an end. But he was almost immediately put to work at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA. There he worked capacities of increasing responsibility until 1952, when he took a test for an even higher position at the San Diego Naval Shipyard. He and Verda loved life in San Diego, even though it was about 500 miles from the rest of their family. Frank attended evening classes at the Junior College and attained his Associate's degree. He also played cello occasionally for the San Diego Symphony. He also developed an intense interest in the California Missions and Photography. He and Verda would drive to the Missions on the weekend so Frank could photograph them. He later developed a slide show and lecture program about the Missions which he delivered to audiences at the main San Diego Public Library. </p><p>My sister and I traveled south to them each summer . . . sometimes by car, and later by air on $12 PSA flights. They lived in an 850 square foot house at 3931 69th Street in San Diego, that was filled with more love than the Cistine Chapel. I later lived with my grandparents, from 1962 to 1964. Those years were filled with me nosing into everything he knew. 6' 2" with pure white hair and deep brown eyes he was both God and Santa Claus to me. He helped me with Algebra and Geometry, I tested him when he took a Real Estate course, we talked about religion, photography and the responsibility he had for the people he worked with. I became very interested in Labor Relations as I sat at his knee. Frank thought that he held the highest position that could be obtained by a Civilian in the Navy, but was invited to test for yet another position that would be over four Masters - but in Public Works - in Portsmouth, New Hampshire! He tested well, accepted the job; Frank and Verda moved to New Hampshire. He wanted to work as long as he could; they returned to California in 1967. He became a great-grandfather that same year, and he also undertook a correspondence course in piano tuning. Then he tuned pianos, bought-refurbished-and-sold pianos, and repaired school band instruments until his death in 1977. He had a heart attack at home first. They took him to the hospital and in the days that passed he told us he "saw something" and felt no fear whatsoever when he was on is back in the hallway of their home, and he had no fear of dying then. Frank and Verda are buried in California at Skyview Memorial Lawn Cemetery near the Vallejo/Benicia border . . . Garden of the Good Shepherd. Surely he's blowing a trumpet somewhere in heaven. </p>
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 12:07 am
