WHITEHALL, Pa. – Francis H. “Frank” Near, 71, of Whitehall, Pa., died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at St. Luke Hospital in Fountain Hill, Pa. He worked in apartment maintenance at Helfrich Springs in Whitehall for 26 years, retiring in 2010.

He was born May 11, 1941, in Sterling, the son of Ralph and Katherine (Portner) Near.  He served in the Army. He married Suzanne Jenett. He was a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Allentown, Pa.

Survivors include his wife; children, Allan (Jodi) Near of Dixon, Anne Near of Allentown, Terry Near of Dixon, Cindie (Kevin) Feldman of Macungie, Pa., Christopher (Catrina) Near of McAdoo, Pa., and Frank (Leah) Near Jr. of Whitehall; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Wimmer of Dixon and Ruth Schrader of Rock Hills; and brothers, Phillip Near of Dixon and Robert Near of Sterling.