Frank J. Di Prima | Business owner, 80

Frank J. Di Prima, 80, of Mechanicsburg, retired business owner and professional baseball player, died at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, Pa., of renal failure Jan. 24, three days after his daughter Marta Larrisey died of cancer.

Mr. Di Prima played shortstop on the baseball team at Upper Darby High School and was a forward on the basketball team. After graduating in 1944, he signed with a Phillies farm team in Wilmington. He interrupted his sports career to serve in the Navy Air Corps in the United States during World War II.

After his discharge, he played on farm teams around the country for more than a decade. In 1949, he married Martha Futrell, whom he had met while playing for the Cardinals farm team in Winston-Salem, N.C.

In 1958, he quit baseball and joined his uncle's company, Paoli Auto Supply. He eventually became owner and later established a second business, Exton Automotive.

He and his wife moved from Media to Vero Beach, Fla., after he retired in 1984. They moved to Mechanicsburg two weeks ago.

An accomplished trumpet player as a young man, Mr. Di Prima began playing again in Florida with local groups.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Frank Jr.; a daughter, Karen; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Joseph Church, 400 E. Simpson St., Mechanicsburg. Friends may call from 10 a.m.