A Funeral Mass for Francis Joseph Donovan, 87, of Newark, will be held at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 10:30 A.M., Friday, February 26, 2016 with Rev. JCP Sullivan, Parish Priest, as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Frank, a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, died at Licking Memorial Hospital on Monday, February 22, 2016. He was born in Astoria, a suburb of Queens, N.Y, on September 6, 1928.

Frank was a graduate of Power Memorial High School, NY and then attended St. John's College where he played basketball. He moved to the Newark area when he was contracted to play professional baseball with the local Yankee organization. He was an assistant scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was a former baseball and softball coach at Newark Catholic High School. Frank also participated and traveled with the Tuesday Night Bowling League, and had once bowled a perfect game.

He was retired from the Newark Post Office where he worked for many years as a letter carrier and had formerly worked at Owens Corning and Westinghouse. Frank was a member of the Newark Elks Lodge and Knights of Columbus Council 721 and the Fr. Bill Johnson Council.

He is survived by his son, Michael Donovan of San Diego; grandchildren, Erica (Brian) Hoffman, and Brian Leek; great-grandchildren, Kristine and Aaron Hoffman, and Jasiah Hinton; son-in-law, Rick Leek; sisters-in-law, Norma Roll and Grace Donovan; brother-in-law, Richie Balanda; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Suzanne (Roll) Donovan; daughter, Patricia Jo Leek; brother, James "Jimmy" Donovan; and sister, Alice Balanda.

Friends and family may call at the REED-EGAN FUNERAL HOME, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark, 2-4 and 7-9 P.M, Thursday, February 25, 2016 where an Elks Service will be held at 6:45 and a Rosary Service will be held at 8:30 P.M.

The family requests memorials in Frank's name to the ALS Foundation, Central & Southern Ohio Chapter, 1170 Old Henderson Road, Suite 221, Columbus, OH 43220.

To share your memory of Frank or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com.