AUGUSTA, Ga. - Frank A. Mariano Jr., SFC U.S. Army Retired, of Augusta, died on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011.

Frank is survived by his children, Charles M. Abbott Jr. and his wife, Mandy, of Aiken, S.C.; Frank A. Mariano III and his wife, Amanda, of North Augusta, S.C.; and Ann-Marie Mariano-Powell of Harlem, Ga.; their mother, Becky Mariano, of North Augusta, S.C.; his grandchildren, Katherine Lee Powell, Madison Louise Mariano, and Caroline Renee Mariano; his sister, Tari Mariano of Oneida; his brother, James Mariano of Massachusetts; his step-mother, Ana Mae Mariano, of Nichols, N.Y.; a niece and several nephews; his special friends, Debbie Price, J.D. Huskey, Ernie Fuehrer, Frank Jackson, and Vincent McClain. His infant daughter, Candace Renee Mariano, preceded him in death in 1983. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Frank A. Mariano Sr. and Mildred Mariano.
Frank was a veteran of The United States Army. He retired as Sergeant First Class in 1991. During his service, he was posted to several foreign countries, always from Ft. Gordon. He was a Drill Sergeant. Frank served during the Vietnam Era.

Following his military retirement, he was a wrecker driver in the Augusta area for more than twenty nine years. He enjoyed hunting and shooting pool. An avid fisherman, he volunteered with the DAV Bass Tournaments. Frank never met a stranger and he enjoyed singing Karaoke with his many friends.