Frank Corbitt Lurie

Frank Corbitt Lurie, age 75, died at his Wimberley, Texas, home on April 9, 2021. A native Texan, Frank grew up in Houston, the younger son of Benjamin Franklin Lurie and Helen Smith Lurie. His father fondly called him François. His mother, with whom he shared a June 24 birthday, affectionately called him Corky.

As a student at the University of Texas-Austin, Frank married Donna Manning, with whom he had a daughter. After his marriage faltered on the shoals of youth, Frank moved to Washington, D.C., living in an 1880 Victorian in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. In the late 1980s, Frank returned to Texas, making his home in Wimberley.

Possessed of a lively and incandescent mind, Frank was never a bore. He valued music, learning, and a good brisket. Interestingly, he is rumored to have been the basis of the character Freewheelin’ Franklin of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.

Frank is survived by his brother James, sister-in-law Nora, and nephews Jacob and Nathan; his daughter Maria Elena, to whom he was known as Papa; his son John; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Frank also leaves behind a host of cousins, including Suzanne Carver and her husband David Jenkins, who provided Frank with loving care during his final days, as well as a circle of beloved neighbors, including Roy Blake, Tom Brady, and Pat and Linda McDowell, who did the same.

A memorial service and tree planting, celebrating Frank’s life, will be held in Wimberley at a later date. Meanwhile, for those so inclined, donations in Frank’s memory may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, which promotes peace, justice, and human dignity. Its website is www.afsc.org.