This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: FRANKLIN Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ZW.2ADI/2175 Message Board Post: Francis E. Franklin Francis Eugene Franklin, a longtime Davis resident, died Dec. 24, 2000, at the age of 85. He was born in Modesto on July 10, 1915, and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chico before moving to Davis in 1962. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1937 and during his naval career, which lasted until 1958, he served as a radio and electronics technician, retiring as chief petty officer after teaching electronics at Treasure Island, San Francisco, for many years. During World War II, he served as radio operator to the admiral of the 8th Amphibious Force in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the naval flag ship USS Biscayne. As such, he participated in the invasions of Salerno, Sicily and Anzio and later the invasion of southern France. During the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan as an electronics instructor. Following his retirement from the Navy he joined the Federal Aviation Agency, serving as radar engineer in charge, working at both Mather and McClellan Air Force bases, retiring again in 1971 from government service. During his many years in Davis, Franklin was involved in a variety of activities. He served as Master of Athens Lodge F&AM, president of the Yolo County Shrine Club and as a member of the Keystone Kops of the Ben Ali Temple. For more than 60 years, Franklin held an amateur radio license and had contacts all over the world, operating under the call sign W6UDF. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Mildred; two sons, William Franklin and his wife Linda of Middletown, and Jerrold Franklin and his wife Wendy of Sacramento; a daughter, Carol Franklin White of Sacramento; eight grandchildren, Robert Franklin and his wife Gail, Joan Franklin Fatu, Paul Franklin, Vicki Franklin Grant and her husband David, Shannon Franklin and his wife Laura, Darla Fischer Brewer and her husband Steve, Travis Franklin and Aaron Franklin; and 10 great-grandchildren. Private family services will be at the Chico Cemetery under the direction of the Davis Funeral Chapel. Remembrances may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital in Sacramento. (Obituary from the "The Davis Enterprise," Friday, December 29, 2000, (Yolo County). Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street, Davis, CA 95616, <http://www.davisenterprise.com/>. Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)