Franklin Pendleton

Franklin D. Pendleton

March 24, 1939 - June 6, 2023

Frank Pendleton—a devoted husband, father, beloved “Dandy” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and co-founder of one of the nation’s leading actuarial firms—departed this life in Nashville on June 6, 2023 after a long illness. He was 84 years of age.

Frank was a son of John Burr Pendleton, Sr. and Maggie King Pendleton. Predeceasing him were both parents; brother John Burr Pendleton, Jr.; sisters Betty Lee Pendleton Stiddum and Doris Marie Pendleton Swift; and son Reed Harrington Pendleton.

Surviving Frank are his wife of 35 years, Micki Early Pendleton, as well as sons Bradley Pendleton (Zee), Keith Garstin (Calvert) and Christian Garstin and daughter Nicki Wood (Tom). His grandchildren are Lia Dameron (Dylan), Margaret Anne Betz (Ches), Bitsy Pendleton, Franklin Garstin (Ellie), Robert Garstin, Clay Garstin, Hunter Garstin and Eloise Wood. His great-grandchildren are James Dameron and Penny Elizabeth Betz.

“I’m from early Virginia and East Tennessee and Rome, Georgia dirt farms,” Frank wrote when asked about his ancestry. He grew up in East Nashville and attended Madison High School. There he played football for Coach Bill Brimm, whom he considered a lifelong mentor. He obtained an undergraduate degree at Sewanee, the University of the South, and then took part in graduate studies in mathematics at Yale University.

After working at National Life & Accident Insurance Co. for several years, Frank co-founded actuarial firm Bryan Pendleton Swats & McAllister in the early 1970s. BPS&M served corporations and institutions across several states in dealing with their pension, profit-sharing and insurance needs. He and his partners sold the firm to banking company Wells Fargo in 2000.

The mathematical bright lights of BPS&M attended a few actuarial conferences in Las Vegas early on, but they eventually found themselves banned from blackjack tables as their card-counting abilities became too obvious. Frank used to comment that if you could lay all the world’s actuaries end-to-end, stretching to the moon and back, nobody would care.

An avid runner for many years, Frank loved the Warner Parks, where a bench now commemorates him and his jogging buddy, the late Forrest Parmley.

For several years, Frank and Micki spent winters in Siesta Key, Fla., where they hosted visiting friends and family.

Frank’s family members would like to express special appreciation to the staff and caregivers at Clarendale Bellevue Place as well as The Meadows Senior Community Health Center, and to all family and friends who have supported them with their prayers and presence.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, June 14, from 12:00 to 2:30 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, Nashville, Tenn. 37205, with the funeral immediately following. The Rev. J. Malone Gilliam and The Rev. David B. Kidd will officiate.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Warner Parks, the Alzheimer’s Association or Alive Hospice.