Howard B. Frankenfield, age 96, of Suwanee, Ga., formerly of Tryon, passed away May 21, 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife, Emily Bethune, and is survived by his daughter, Carole Chalcraft of Suwanee, Ga., and son, William Frankenfield of Snellville, Ga.

After graduating from Penn State University, he joined the U.S. Army. He was an officer in a battalion of infantry engineers that participated in the D-Day invasion, the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge. He remained in the Army Reserves and retired as a captain.

Mr. Frankenfield came to Tryon with his wife Emily in the mid-1940s as a forestry engineer with Champion Paper.&bsp; A few years later he began his own business and expanded it to include land surveying. Among his many interests his greatest was growing roses. His home in Gillette Woods came to be known as Roseacre. During the peak of his rose growing days he grew more than 400 rose bushes.&bsp; Roseacre enjoyed hundreds of visitors each year.

Toward the end of his days as a land surveyor Emily began a business called Emmies Antiques. Mr. Frankenfield specialized in antique clocks. After retiring from his business they traveled to antique shows in the southeast for many years. Mr. Frankenfield was an active member of the Tryon Congregational Church and sang in the church choir for many years.

A private memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 10 at 3 p.m. at the Tryon Congregational Church. &bsp;

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus , N.C. 28722, in memory of Howard B. Frankenfield. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, Snellville Chapel, 770-979-3200.