Obituary of Francis X. Coyle

Francis Xavier Coyle, 86, of Colonial Park, PA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 after an extended illness. He was born on December 9, 1936 in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia and was the son of the late Robert and Elizabeth (nee Harrison) Coyle. He was loyal brother of Robert and Jane (nee O'Connell), MaryAnn, Joe and Sandy (nee Christopher), and Susan (nee Coyle) Dowling. He is survived by his wife Joanne, and children Francis X Jr, of Clearwater, FL, Martie (nee Coyle) and Frank Kasnick, of Carmel, IN, John and Betsy (nee Tenaglio) of Berwyn, PA and Mia (nee Coyle) and Mickey Dotzel of Wayne, PA and his grandchildren, Frank, Bridget, Jack, Maeve and Jake. He is predeceased by his parents, brother Robert, grandson Dominic and sister-in-law Sandy. Frank attended St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia and was a proud graduate of the US Naval Academy class of 1958. During his time at the Naval Academy, Frank met and married the love of his life Joanne P. O’Donnell of Mount Carmel, PA and they were joined together in marriage for 61 years. Frank’s proudest accomplishment and greatest joy was his marriage, children, grandchildren and extended family. Frank served in the US Navy for a total of 23 years of active and reserve duty retiring with rank of Captain. His service began in submarines in New London, CT and continued in Naval intelligence at the Pentagon. Concurrent with his active duty service, he earned his Masters degree from George Washington University. After active duty service, he settled in Harrisburg with his family and where he lived for 50+ years and worked for the Pennsylvania State Government, AMP (currently Tyco) and finally for Motorola Radio. Frank was a faithful and an active member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Harrisburg. He was proud of his Irish heritage, golf, history, reading, international travel, Pinochle and Hearts, swimming, afternoon naps, the beach at the Jersey Shore, black coffee, Yuengling Lager, long road trips, summer not winter, college football (Navy, the Nittany Lions and the Irish) and vacations at Walt Disney World. He lived a life of service, love, kindness and devotion to God, Country, Family and Friends. He was one of the good ones and will be missed. A viewing will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 2800 Paxton Church Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 10:00AM with a Mass of a Christian Burial to follow at 11:00AM. Burial will be on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at 2:00PM at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA, 17003, with full military honors. In lieu of flowers and donations, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Wounded ​ Warrior Project.org, “In Honor of Francis X. Coyle”, of whom Frank was a proud supporter. https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=10043&ovr_acv_id=5246