Frank Edward Barringer Obituary (2026)

On October 22nd, 1928, Frank Barringer was born to Mary and Robert in the back room of their IGA grocery store on Freya Street in Spokane, Washington. From humble roots, Frank was raised alongside three siblings—two of whom survive him, Laura and John—and one, Robert, who lived to the age of 94. Frank attended Lewis & Clark High School before continuing on to Gonzaga University, where he studied pre-dentistry and University of Washington School of Dentistry. While at UW, he met Martha Ann Coulter who was studying nursing. They married in 1953 in South Bend, Washington. In 1956, together, they moved to Alaska, where Frank enlisted and served as a captain during the Korean War, stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base. He often joked that his role was essential—“a soldier couldn’t fight with a toothache.” With the support of the GI Bill, he went on to complete orthodontic training at the University of Washington, driven by both ambition and a desire to make the most of his education. Following his studies, Dr. Barringer began his orthodontic career in Yakima in the early 1960s alongside Dr. McCullah. There, he built both a respected practice and a meaningful life with his beloved wife. Together, they raised three children—Gail, Todd, and Jill. The family first settled on Uplands Way in the valley before building a home on Scenic Drive, which became Frank’s cherished sanctuary. Their children attended Gilbert Elementary, Wilson Jr. High, and Eisenhower High School, and the family were members of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church and later First Presbyterian. Frank often walked to church, pausing to listen to the bells. Frank became an esteemed and deeply respected orthodontist in Yakima, but above all, he was a provider, protector, and steady presence for his family—a man defined by quiet strength and unwavering dedication. He retired in 1988 at the age of 60, later remarking with a smile, “If I knew I would live so long, I wouldn’t have retired so early.” In retirement, Frank remained deeply engaged in the life around him. He attended Bible study, cheered on Eisenhower High School at football games and performing arts productions, and found joy in gardening, watching the Zags, and tinkering in his shop. Yet it was as a grandfather that he truly came alive. Blessed with six grandchildren—Trevor, Chase, Taylor, Conner, Morgan, and Maggie—Frank took immense pride in his growing family. He spent weeks each summer at his beloved cabin on Deer Lake, just outside Spokane, creating lasting memories with his daughters and their children in the land he called “God’s Country”. He also cared for his granddaughter Maggie for extended stretches each year, forming a bond that was especially close and enduring. In his later years, when asked the secret to his long and healthy life, Frank would simply say, “I never stopped exercising.” And he meant it. For decades, he could be found walking or biking along Scenic Drive, and even into his 90s, he remained active—tinkering in the exercise room at Fieldstone OrchardWest. He faced and overcame significant health challenges, including Merkel cell carcinoma, fractures, and bouts of pneumonia, yet continued forward with resilience and quiet determination. He visited his wife, Martha, in memory care every day until her passing in 2024, and remained a devoted husband, father, and grandfather to the very end. Frank passed away peacefully in his sleep, in his own bed, at Fieldstone on April 28, 2026, at the age of 97—nearly two years to the day after the loss of his beloved Martha. His passing was gentle, without pain or illness, and on his own terms. He had expressed that he was ready, and his family finds great comfort in that. Those who knew Frank will remember him as big-hearted, humorous, frugal, and deeply kind. He had a gift for making friends wherever he went, and he leaves behind a legacy of warmth, strength, and steadfast love that will not be forgotten.