Frank "Sonny" R. LoBue

Frank R. (Sonny) LoBue passed away on March 6, 2015, in Seminole, Florida. He was born in Buffalo, New York, on August 5, 1932. In 1945 his family moved to Florida, where he attended schools in Orange Park and St. Petersburg. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1951. Following a four-year stint in the Navy, Frank attended St. Petersburg College, where he minored in music. Frank later worked as an electrical contractor for Florida Power Corporation. A resident of Seminole, he spent several months each year at his seasonal home on Lake Santeetlah in western North Carolina. Frank enjoyed boating, fishing, karate and spending time with friends and family. Over the years he was active in music circles from opera and oratorios to Community Theater. He and his wife Bette, a duet team, performed both spiritual and semi-classical concerts, including stage, radio and television appearances, most notably on "One Hundred Huntley Street" for Canadian television. Frank was a former cymbal player in the "Second Time Around Band" and formerly sang with the Showcase Singers ensemble and the Suncoast Singers' chorus. Frank was a member of Faith Community Church, where he blended his rich tenor voice with the choir. He was a sustaining member of the Church by the Sea on Madeira Beach and the Robbinsville United Methodist Church in North Carolina. A member of the Gideons International, Frank was always interested in young people and encouraged many in their faith. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. Those meeting him for the first time, were captivated by his personality and drawn in by his warmth and humor. Frank is survived by his wife Bette and their two children, Susan M. Funk of St. Petersburg; and Michael F. LoBue, of Tampa. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at Reese Funeral Home, 6767 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772. Family and friends will gather for a celebration of his life at Faith Community Church, 11501 Walker Avenue North, Seminole, FL 33772, on Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Gideons International, St. Petersburg West, P. O. Box 11555, St. Petersburg, FL 33733, or Suncoast Hospice Foundation at 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater FL 33760.