Notes:
Photograph from the files of Doug Mumma
Frank Duncan Gatter, Jr. was born in Seattle, Washington as the eldest son Frank Duncan Gatter and Elizabeth M. Reese Gatter. The family was living at 1116 Pike Street, Seattle, King County, WA when Frank was born.
He lived most of his childhood in Tacoma, Washington before the family moved to Oakland, California around 1915. Frank attended Claremont Elementary School in Oakland and was promoted to high school on 15 December 1916. His father first appears in the Oakland City Directory in 1916 as a Marine Engineer residing at 394 60th Avenue. In 1917, the family is living at 6069 Hillegass Avenue.
In the summer of 1917, Frank was a member of Troop One, Berkeley Boy Scouts of America and spent 3 months in the Troop One Agricultural Corps living in Sebastopol. There they gathered fruit fro the Gold Ridge Orchard Company. This was the longest camping period ever conducted for youths in the state. Frank was part of the "Headquarters" group and he said this in the October 1917 newsletter called "The Sentinel". FRANK GATTER - "Anyone in need of a cook, apply to the Scout Master of Troup One." Frank also served "The Silver Fox Patrol" as the leader.
On December 16, 1919, Frank was issued a "Seaman's Identificard Card" #14141. It appears he sailed on the vessel named the "Maui". The ship arrived back in port on 22 June 1920. We are unsure what his job was since he was only 17 years old. Frank was issued a driver's license on the 20th day of October, 1920 at the age of 18. He was 5' 8'' tall and weighed 150 pounds.
Frank attended Oakland Technical School and was awarded a diploma on 20 January 1922. This was 6 years after he received his diploma from Grammar school. He was athletic, excelling in swimming, diving and track.
At one point in his life, Frank worked as a cowboy in Nevada with his friend and future brother-in-law, James MacLean. We believe it was sometime around 1922 after his graduation from Oakland Tech. It was James who introduced Frank to his future wife, Margaret Steynor.
Frank Jr. first appears in the Oakland City directory in 1922 where he is listed as a fireman and living with his parents at 6090 Hillegass Avenue. It is not clear what his job was as a fireman. In 1923, he is listed as a student. In 1924 he is listed as a clerk, but no indication as to what company he was working for. He is still a clerk in 1924 and he is living with his mother and father, but they have moved to 5839 Presley Street.
He and Margaret were married on 20th August 1925 in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Oakland. The event was witnessed by Walter M. Bohall of Berkeley and Maude Steynor of Oakland. Frank and his wife are listed as living at 509 Athol Avenue, Oakland. No occupation is listed for him. In 1927, they are living at 818 61st Street. They are living at 722 59th Street in 1930. He also appears in the 1930 census which shows are living at 726 59th Street. He is listed as hardware salesman and Margaret is a stenographer in banking. Their first child, Nancy Elizabeth Gatter was born May 20, 1932. In 1933 he and Margaret are living at 259 Adams Street, Oakland and he is a salesman. On January 13, 1934, their second daughter, Joan Frances Gatter was born and they were then living at 404 Hudson Street. This was a small bungalow that was behind Margaret's parents boarding house at 406 Hudson Street. In 1935 they bought a house at 540 Callan Street in San Leandro.
Frank served as the superintendent of the San Leandro Veterans Memorial Building and as a deputy sheriff at the Alameda Pose Tube. He later transfered to the County Jail facility in Pleasanton where he served as an operating/stationary engineer with Alameda County until his retirement in 1967 after 33 years of service.
Frank was a past Master Mason of Sequoyah Lodge #349, Oakland, a 32nd degree Shriner of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in San Leandro and the Ames Temple in Oakland. He alsoserved as a worthy patron, Pleasanton Order of Eastern Star. Frank and Margaret were active in Job's Daughters Bethel #175 with their daughter's, Nancy and Joan.
Following his retirement, he and Margaret moved to Rossmoor Leisure World in Walnut Creek on 29 May, 1967 where he lived until his death in 1981. On December 18, 1981, Frank Gatter's ashes were scattered exactly 14 miles off of Santa Cruz, California at latitude 37:00 and longitude 122:20
