Donald L. Franklin, 85, Frontenac, died at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at his residence in Frontenac.
Donald was born Jan. 29, 1931, in Walnut, a son of Lloyd and Elvina (Goff) Franklin.
Donald worked in the chicken plant in Iola in 1961, and met and married Lois Marlene Schiefelbine on May 28, 1964, in Iola. They had three children, Marlene Franklin (Henderson), Elvina Rachel Franklin (Allen) and Roger Franklin.
They then moved to Girard in 1983 and he worked at the Heritage Nursing Home in Girard from 1984 until 2000 as a janitor and retired in 2000. He was a loving and wonderful husband, grandfather, Papa, brother, uncle, and friend. He lived life to the fullest and loved his family deeply.
He was preceded in death by his son, Roger Lee Franklin; his parents; his sisters Pauline Zimmerman, Dorothy Miller, Jessie Zimmerman, Leona Zimmerman; a baby sister at birth; and his brothers, Gilbert Franklin and Vernon Franklin.
Survivors include his wife of the home; daughters Marlene Franklin (Henderson) and husband Larry and Elvina Franklin (Allen) and husband Robert; grandchildren Elizabeth Henderson, Rachel Luke and husband J.W., Michelle Sanchez and husband Tommy, Roger Allen, Samantha Simpson and husband Greg, Rebecca Henderson; 13 great-grandchildren, Jaden Luke, Cloey Sanchez, Vannessa Luke, Johnthan Sanchez, Rhyan Luke, Connor Sanchez, Nevaeh Luke, Ayden Henderson, Hannah Allen, Cameron Sanchez, Mackenzie Allen, Zoey Allen and John Henderson; a brother, Everett Franklin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Walnut Cemetery with Pastor Craig Campbell officiating. Burial will follow the services.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard, where friends may call after 2 p.m.
