Frank J. Fernandes

Frank Joseph Fernandes, age 97, of Geneva, passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at his home with his loving family by his side.

He was born February 10, 1929, in Springfield, IL, the son of Frank and Lucy (Ekis) Fernandes.

Born into poverty, “Sunny Boy” was industrious and creative with an obvious potential for achievement supported by mentors including Rev H. M. Hildebrandt of Springfield’s Third Presbyterian Church. The newspaper delivery boy who eventually became a lifeguard that proudly trained a couple hundred nurses destined to care for soldiers during WWII, had Hildebrandt advocate for him to attend an academically challenging high school outside of the district in which he lived. 

Teenage Frank excelled and garnered various local, state, regional and national awards including high school class Salutatorian, 1st place in IL State History writing contest, National Presbyterian Young Leader, Youth for Christ Student of the Year, and being a member of Look magazine’s All American High School Football Team.

Frank became the first member of his family to attend college. He chose to attend Wheaton College, the alma mater of another mentor, Gene Lind, where he could pursue studies from a Christian worldview — and continue to play football. Many of his teammates were slightly older men, some with wives and children, who were WWII veterans pursuing education on the GI Bill. The Crusader’s team coach, Harve Chrouser, was tough as nails and shared the playbook of his buddy George Halas with the collegians.

To support himself through college, Frank cleaned bathrooms in the women’s dorms at midnight, picked up & delivered dry cleaning, and continued a career in house painting and wallpaper hanging. In addition to football and his studies, he was business manager of the college’s student literary magazine, Kodon, and taught kids in rural areas Sunday School through the Keystone Fellowship. 

January 1950, Betty Lou Behn of Gary, IN, was a frosh transferee from Duke University who Frank quickly spotted in the dining hall line. He invited her to the February Washington Banquet. Mentors Charles & Lillian Weaver lent their car so the jock could drive the beauty queen into the city in style. 

In 1952, Frank graduated with a business degree, married Betty Lou Behn and bought Frost Paint Center in Wheaton. 

Frank was active in College Church in 13 Club Adult Sunday School class, chaired the Missions Board, co-founded Forum 15 Adult Sunday School class, and grew the Christian Service Brigade (boys club) to be the largest in the country. Frank also served on the Greater Europe Mission (GEM) board. He and Betty were always supporting missionaries financially and with prayer and snail mail correspondence while on the field, and with hospitality when they were home on furlough..

Frank contributed to community well-being as an advocate to build the BR Ryall YMCA in Glen Ellyn and co-founder of DuPage Art League. His annual support of Rotary Club’s Fruit Cake fundraiser contributed to his family’s appetite for this Christmas treat.

Frank fathered a family of 5 children and made their home the neighborhood epicenter of fun. He also pursued further education by earning a Bachelor of Divinity at Northern Baptist Seminary, and taking classes in counseling at Trinity College in Deerfield to assist with the avocational counseling he was doing.

Frank owned 3 brick & mortar stores (paint, wallpaper & artist supply stores in Wheaton and Downers Grove and BF Goodrich tire & bicycle store in Geneva) before changing his career to investments in West Virginia gas wells, real estate and land development in Arkansas, Colorado and Illinois, and owning other local businesses including accounting, insurance, Century World Travel, Royal Coach Limousine, and Pinehurst Homebuilders. 

He also established and was Chairman of the Board for 17 years of the non profit NIGHTSOUNDS radio ministry aka Bill Pearce Associates when the former WMBI radio host and musician Bill Pearce became independent from Moody Bible Institute.

Frank was gregarious and met many celebrities including Billy Graham, George Beverly Shea, Jimmy Connors, Johnny Mathis, President Gerald & Mrs. Betty Ford, Rose Totino, and Franklin Graham.

After separation with and divorce from Betty, God’s amazing Grace brought them back together as Man and Wife in a family witnessed ceremony on a very white January 10, 2009 — reminiscent of the Winter of 1950 drive to the Washington Banquet.

Frank and Betty had 17 years together the second time around and watched their family grow from 28 to 50 souls.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!!!

He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou (Behn); children Barbara (G.P.) Yeh, Frank (Wendy), Lucy (Bill) Tomlin, Daniel (Dara), and Marilou Wiborg; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and many other dear relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Louis.

A private service was held to celebrate Frank’s life and God’s great gifts of forgiveness of sins, a relationship with Him, and a heavenly home where we will enjoy Him forever.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (SamaritansPurse.org)

Arrangements handled by Malone Funeral Home in Geneva. For more information call 630-232-8233 or visit www.malonefh.com.

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