Aaron Vail Frost, III

Nov. 8, 1941 - July 7, 2018 Aaron Vail Frost, III, 76, passed away at home on Saturday, July 7, 2018, surrounded by family and beloved caregivers, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. Vail was born November 8th, 1941, in New Jersey, the son of Aaron Vail Frost, Jr. and Merillat Wills Frost. He grew up in Allentown, New Jersey, and graduated high school from St. Peter's School in Hyde Park, New York. After college at Lehigh University, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1964, he served in the United States Peace Corps where he was assigned to India working on small business development. He then served in the United States Army until 1968, during the Vietnam War, where he was recognized as an outstanding sharpshooter but was ultimately assigned to Germany where he managed payroll due to his economic background. He married Eileen Mary Pulaski in 1968, and after his military service ended, returned to the States where he received his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1971. In Chicago he worked for Libby, McNeill and Libby International Caribbean. In 1976, Vail began work at L'Eggs Products, International (ultimately Sara Lee Corporation) and moved to Winston-Salem, N.C. Among many activities, while in Winston-Salem Vail served on the board of Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc., where he was known for his colorful socks, and was glad to support the beautiful art and craft produced by its juried members. Vail traveled extensively with his work, with a special focus on South America and the Far East, and ultimately retired from Sara Lee Corporation in 1996. After living and working in Santiago, Chile, he married his dear friend Linda Neal Dekle in 2000. Ultimately, Linda and Vail moved to Atlanta, GA where they bought a small landscaping contractor business. Vail had a lifelong passion for exotic cars, and worked on many in his garage, taking them to shows all over the US. Travel continued to be a passion, usually including a Formula One race. His friends who shared his enthusiasm for cars and international travel were some of his best, although his sense of humor, impeccable manners, and easy conversation helped him develop friendships wherever he went. Vail was predeceased by his parents and sister, Merillat Frost Hill (Tom). He is survived by his wife, Linda; his two daughters, Elisabeth Dresel (Paul) and Merillat Frost; his stepson, Christopher Dekle (Susie); two grandsons, Max Dresel and Charles Dekle; two godchildren, Maria Paz and Salvador, and their parents, Juan Carlos and Beatriz de Irisarri, brother-in-law Tom Hill and many valued friends. Special thanks to his long-term caregivers who are valued like family, Rosa Hernandez, Marilyn DeFreitas, Makani Diaby, Georgina Darkwah, and Latrina Howell-Smith. He was so loved. A ceremony celebrating Vail's life will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at the Payne Corley House, 2987 Main Street, Duluth, GA. Meet the family 1:30, Celebration 2:00pm, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagertown, MD 21741-5014, and Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc., 601 N. Trade Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, or via their websites. Family may be contacted at ldfrost2@gmail.com and 678-409-4212.