April 7, 1941 – January 4, 2022
James Luther Frakes, 80, Indianapolis, passed away on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at his home. He was born on April 7, 1941, to Herby and Hazel (Marts) Frakes in Sullivan, Ind.
Jim was a 1959 graduate of Sullivan High School, and he held a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering Management. Jim proudly served in the United States Army while stationed in Germany from 1960 to 1962. He was in the industry as an engineer for 60 years, working at Ford, Chrysler, Unarco Industries, and TRW Plant. Jim went to work full time with his brother Bill at Frakes Engineering, an industrial control systems engineering firm in Indianapolis, in which they started in 1979.
Jim was an avid race fan; he attended his first Indianapolis 500 at 17 years old and has attended every year since except for two years. He was a very active member of the Austin-Healey Club of America, both locally and nationally, since 1995 and had a passion for classic cars and car shows. Jim also enjoyed boating with his family on Morse Lake.
He is survived by his wife of six years, Sue Frakes; daughter, Kim (Gary) Tighe; son, Douglas Frakes; grandchildren, Dr. Claire (Klint) Dougherty and Nolan Tighe; great-grandchild, Kallahan Dougherty; sister, Betty Butler; nieces, Sheila Frakes and Lisa Frakes (Mike) Bratcher and their children Savannah and Kenzie Bratcher; stepchildren, Roger and Terri Saucerman, Sarah Daney, and Gus and Pam Saucerman; and seven step-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Bonnie Frakes, in 2004; sister, Virginia Ashcraft; and brother, Bill Frakes.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2022, at Randall & Roberts Fishers Mortuary, 12010 Allisonville Road, Fishers, with Pastor Rick Grover officiating. Mlitary rites will follow at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Indianapolis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Riley Children’s Foundation, 30 S. Meridian St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or at rileykids.org.
Condolences: randallroberts.com