Ernest E. Franklin's Obituary
Ernest Elmo Franklin, 90 passed away at Hope Hospice on September 19, 2011.?áHe was born December 11, 1920 in Horsepasture, Henry County Virginia to the late George Waller and Janie Esther (Barker) Franklin. ?áErnest served in the 98th Mortar Battalion during WWII fighting on Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines.?áAfter the war he returned to Martinsville, Virginia where he worked for Lee Telephone Company. ?áHe attended Virginia Military Academy and was a founding member of the Henry County Lifesaving Crew.?áHe moved his family to Fort Myers in 1956, taking a job with Inter-County Telephone (now CenturyLink).?áHe was Punta Gorda District Service Manager when retired in 1983.?áHe was a member of Noah Lodge #357 F&AM for 40 years, a 32?? in the Scottish Rite and a member of Araba Shrine Temple.?áLike his father, he was a talented woodworker and craftsman who liked to fix things. Ernest was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Lee (Fortney) one brother, Marvin Eugene Franklin and a grandson, Ernest.?áHe is survived by his sister Corrine Itaska Burgess (Walter) and nephew Victor Burgess of Roanoke; his former wife Juanita Franklin (McMillian) and their four children, Ronnie G Franklin (Vicki), Phyllis A Wilkins (Joe); Linda S Sumerall (Steve), all of N Ft Myers, and Mike L Franklin (Celedonia) of Goldsboro, North Carolina.?áHis surviving grandchildren are Reba Franklin; Pemala Franklin-Griffin (John); Timothy W Smith; Kimberly J Clemons (Philip); Rebecca?áEllis all of N Ft Myers, Michael Smith (Susan) of Labelle; Nathan A ?áFranklin of and Reginald Franklin of Wilmington North Carolina and ten great-grandchildren; Natasha, Megan, Kirsten, Shane, Joshua, Brittney , Sydney, Andie, Jordan and Cody. There will be a funeral service with the Masonic Lodge taking part as well, on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 1:00 PM at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.?áInterment with Military Honors will follow in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
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