John Franklin (Lebanon)'s Obituary
John Dee Franklin, son of William J. and Rosie M. Jones Franklin, was born August 8, 1933, near Competition, Missouri. He departed this life Monday, December 31, 2018, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-five years, four months, and twenty-three days.
On June 2, 1954, he was united in marriage to Della Faye Lewis, and to this union one daughter and one son were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, James and Dale Franklin.
John is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years, Della, of the home; a daughter, Janel Moore, and her husband, Mike, of Marshfield, Missouri; a son, John Franklin, Jr., of Springfield, Missouri; three grandchildren, Austin, Caleb, and Emily; five great-grandchildren, Minnie, Addie, Madylynn, Malachi, and Kylo; a brother, Melvin Gregory, and his wife, Liz, of Osage Beach, Missouri; a sister, Rose Marie Patterson, of Daleville, Alabama; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ed and Sally Lewis; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Competition area, and then entered the military when he was a young man. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army from 1953 until 1955, during the Korean War. For most of that time he was stationed in Arizona. After he was honorably discharged from the military, he returned to the Lebanon area and began working for Independent Stave Company, now Missouri Cooperage. He continued in that endeavor for fifty seven years, retiring as a foreman.
He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post # 43 of Lebanon and was a patriotic American. In his spare time he enjoyed being outdoors where his favorite activities were fishing and gardening. He was always very supportive of his children and had coached and been a member of the band boosters. His family was very dear to him and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his eighty-five years.
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