LaFrank Newell
LaFrank Newell was born in Portland, Ore., on July 3, 1956, to the late Frank Newell and Doris Dorton. LaFrank was unique as his name. He passed away at age 68 on May 22, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz.
LaFrank is survived by his wife, Toni Belcher of 20 years. LaFrank found Toni “again for the first time” in 1999 having dated her in high school. They reunited after 25 years, married in 2005, building a life upon their young love.
LaFrank is survived by daughters, Teya Williams, Andrea Whitman and husband Russ Whitman, Jennifer Newell and partner Branden Graves, plus his mother-in-love Jacquelyn Belcher and sister-in-love Terri Belcher.
LaFrank is a grandfather to Tyler, Braden, and Nash Whitman. Tyler and Grace Whitman blessed LaFrank with a great–granddaughter, Naomi, in 2024.
LaFrank grew up in Seattle, a Black youth impacted by its cultural socio-economic challenges. After graduating from Roosevelt High in 1974, LaFrank joined the Air Force in 1975. He left the military to join Boeing in 1979, becoming the first Black graduate of the Model Maker Apprenticeship Program in 1984. LaFrank chaired the state Apprenticeship Council passing a 2001 bill that rewrote apprenticeship rules making paid programs more accessible. LaFrank completed Shingijutsu Lean Manufacturing training in 2002. He earned a B.S. and M.A. in business management in 2003 and 2005. LaFrank left Boeing to join Terex as Operations Director. He joined Caterpillar as a Global Operations Director in 2006, travelling the world. At Caterpillar, LaFrank joined Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate Black fraternity.
LaFrank retired from Caterpillar in 2013 to the home he and Toni built in 2006 in Green Valley. His retirement was filled with golf, cooking, entertaining, music, fishing, and movies. LaFrank loved many things but absolutely loved his family.
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