Frank J. Wilhelm, 99, of Moon Township, passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford on December 12th, 2025. He was born in McKees Rocks on July 24th, 1926 and he moved with his family to Moon Township during the Great Depression. His home had no indoor plumbing, and heat was supplied by a woodstove. Though money was tight, Frank enjoyed a good childhood with his family.
Frank lived an incredible life. His reserved kindness, gentle spirit, and boundless optimism will be remembered by everyone who knew and loved him.
In 1944, at the age of seventeen, Frank joined the US Army Air Force. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan at the end of WWII as a relay station operator. He was honorably discharged in 1946 after earning several service medals.
After returning home, Frank met the love of his life, Esther Baldassare, and they were married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Coraopolis in 1950. They built a home in Moon Township and made a beautiful life together with their two children for over 65 years.
Frank became an electrical designer in 1950 when he was employed by Carl J. Long & Associates where he worked for 75 years. He achieved his professional engineering license and eventually became the president and owner of CJL Engineering. He was very respected in the engineering community and worked on a number of buildings in the Pittsburgh area, notably many hospital projects, the fountain at Point State Park, Bell Telephone jobs and the Civic Arena. Frank was known for his professional integrity and dedication to his employees and customers. As the firm grew, Frank was proud that the company provided a good living for many families.
Beyond his professional life, Frank was a devoted family man. His greatest joy was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Frank also enjoyed athletic endeavors, especially golfing with his friends. He was on record for twice achieving the accomplishment of shooting a hole-in-one. In his later years, Frank once shot nine strokes under his age – quite a feat!
He enjoyed tinkering with all things mechanical and could fix anything. He was known to lovingly ruffle his wife’s feathers with his attention to detail and his many cooking suggestions. He took tremendous pride in keeping his home and lawn maintained to perfection.
Frank is survived by his children, John Wilhelm and Janet Wilhelm Liggett (Lanny), his four grandchildren: Rebecca (Steven), Allison (Dylan), Curtis (Emily) and Lena (Luke); as well as two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Sullivan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary, his wife, Esther, his sister, Gloria Sefton and his brother, Stewart.
Friends will be received on Monday, December 15th from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. at the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Moon Township, 1522 Coraopolis Heights Road, Coraopolis, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where a blessing service will be held on Tuesday, December 16th at 10 A.M. Committal will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Moon Township after which Frank will later be laid to rest privately beside his beloved wife, Esther.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Frank’s memory to Good Samaritan Hospice, c/o Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023 with a memo line to GSH Hospice Wexford.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the care Frank received from Delana Getty, his wonderful caregiver and friend during the past eight months. We are also extremely grateful for the kind and loving care from the nurses and staff at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford.
Frank will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy of honor, hard work, and unconditional love for his family and friends will live on forever in the hearts of those he knew and loved.
