Frank James Triplett knew something about hard times.
His family moved to a variety of towns in Texas and Oklahoma. Shortly after the birth of their sister, Frank and his twin brother were abandoned by their father. Their mother had to be hospitalized for about a year in Houston, Texas. The children were cared for by relatives in Lake Charles.
After a year, the Triplett children were reunited with their mother, Dora. Due to the difficult times of the Great Depression, the boys were unable to finish high school. They worked at a local grocery store. Dora was determined to help her children make something of their lives, so she encouraged them to go into the grocery business.
Frank and his brother got started by selling candy out of a horse-drawn buggy. They would soon open the Triplett’s Grocery Store in Lake Charles. The brothers put in long hours at the store, with their mother working alongside them as the butcher.
The store became well-known in Lake Charles for many years. Children especially loved the store because of its large candy selection.
Frank was drafted in WW II, while his brother stayed behind to take care of the store and their mother. Frank worked for two years building the Alaskan Highway and then did a tour overseas. He volunteered for several “suicide missions,” realizing that many of the men in his unit were married with children. Frank was very proud of his service to his country and grateful for God’s grace that brought him safely back home to Lake Charles.
Triplett’s Grocery Store thrived over the years. Frank and his brother were frugal and invested their money wisely. After his mother’s death in 1960, Frank felt free to marry.
Unfortunately, Frank and his wife, Audrey, were never able to have children. Frank expressed his love for children by faithfully teaching a children’s Sunday School class in his Baptist church for many years.
Frank and Audrey were devoted to one another. After Audrey retired from teaching school, Frank and his brother sold the grocery store. The couple spent a decade traveling together and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Audrey died in 2004. Frank died in April, 2010, at the age of 95.
Frank Triplett was a man of honor, who took his responsibility for his family and to his country very seriously. He was a man of strong faith with a strong work ethic. He was grateful for God’s blessings in his life. He died knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and knew that a better home was awaiting him in heaven.
By God’s grace, Frank chose to live by a higher code of conduct than his own father. He recognized that his life was a stewardship of God’s provisions. He chose to place the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in his will. Frank Triplett leaves a Christ-like legacy of unconditional love and generosity. Mr. Triplett’s gift to LBCHF&M will provide a legacy of care for hurting children and families for years to come.