- The following obituary was from the Columbus Ledger Inquirer, 11/11/2008.
JOHN W. FRANKLIN
John W. Franklin February 1, 1920 -November 10, 2008 COLUMBUS, GA -John W. Franklin, 88, of Columbus, GA died Monday, November 10, 2008 at Columbus Hospice House. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at McMullen Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Vern Jordin officiating. The grandsons will serve as active pallbearers, and the Junction City Fire Dept. and the Rangers at Ft Benning will serve as honorary pallbearers. Interment will be held at 1:00 p.m. in
Junction City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, November 11,2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
John W. Franklin was born February 1, 1920 in Holbrook, KY to the late Ben Franklin and Sarah Franklin. Other than his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Odessa Watson Franklin and his first wife, Caroline (Carolyn) Hart Franklin, a son, John Williams (Wilson) Franklin, two son-in-Iaws, Johnny Rustin and Jim Helms, and two grandchildren.
John W. Franklin enlisted in the Army as a youngster from Millstone, Kentucky. In his words "I was out for adventure, and I got it." After training, he was dispatched to Fort Benning, Georgia, in the Tank Battalion of the 24th Engineers, 4th Armored Division as a part of Patton's Army. He later volunteered for the newly developing 2nd Ranger Battalion which landed on the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc on that fateful day of June 6, 1944. John's heroics at Normandy included receiving a head wound, yet remaining at his post during withdrawal of his platoon and risking his personal safety and life while allowing his men to reach safety. His accomplishments have been noted with awards of: Silver star medal, American Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 1 bronze arrowhead, Presidential Unit Citation, and U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. After the war, John dedicated 17 years to the Fire Department of Fort Benning as a civil servant. He continued his concern for others by developing a Volunteer Fire Department in the community of Junction City , Georgia, which had no source for fighting fires. For 50 years he served as the chief securing equipment, recruiting, soliciting funding, and training other firefighters. He was also a participant in the solicitation of funds and development of a public water system in the community of Junction City.
John dedicated a total of 23 years to military and civil service while undertaking community services in his spare time and retirement. He has been an impactful personality and an example for his family, surrounding acquaintances, and friends continuing into retirement. Survivors include daughters, Martha Hutto (Basil) of Columbus, GA, Elizabeth
Rustin of Buena Vista, GA, Sandra Allen (Larry) of Millen, GA, and Connie Helms of Dublin, GA, Sons, Terry Franklin (Shelia) of Senoia, GA, and Kelley Foster (Pat) of Butler, GA, two brothers, Jesse Frankin (Jean) of Sommerset, KY, and Bill Franklin of Peebles, OH, thirteen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Flowers will be accepted but those who wish may make memorial contributions to Gardens of Calvary Assisted Living 7595 Moon Road, Columbus, GA 31909.
|
1920 - 2008 (88 years)
[2, 3] 
