This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Lace_Lynch Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ohio.counties.franklin/18578/mb.ashx Message Board Post: FRANKLIN Howard Earl Howard Earl Franklin, born December 25, 1916 in a log cabin in Junction, Ohio in Paulding County, lived 92 of his 93 years in south Toledo, Ohio. After suffering much pain and bravely battling complications post-hip replacement surgery, Howard passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on South Detroit, where he received excellent care. As a six-year old during the Great Depression, Howard sold newspapers for two cents each, earning a penny for selling three papers. Since his father died of pneumonia when he was only nine, he worked hard to help support his family with a mother and nine siblings. Howard attended Libbey High School, Toledo, Ohio. He retired from Columbia Gas of Ohio as a gas meter engineer following 47 years of service. Howard was a WW II veteran who volunteered to serve in the U.S. Navy as a sonar operator on the U.S.S. Huse, part of the Hunter Killer Group, whose mission was escorting and protecting their aircraft carrier; also protecting merchant and supply ships sailing to and from Europe from German submarines in the Atlantic. This past year, he was e-mailing his former shipmates from his laptop. Howard was a member of (Calumet) Northern Light Masonic Lodge for 62 years, becoming a Master Mason in 1947. Howard especially enjoyed boating on Lake Erie, fishing, hunting, and all sports in general. He also enjoyed playing his Gibson guitar, listening to jazz, playing cards, the challenge of repairing almost anything, and yearly fun-filled home holidays and family vacations to several Michigan lakes. Howard was a self-sacrificing, humble man who loved helping others unconditionally. Howard's wife of 52 years, Margaret A. Franklin (Mardi), a retired registered nurse from the former M.C.O., preceded him in death on December 23, 1998. The youngest of nine siblings, he is the last to pass. Most of his seven sisters and one brother lived well into their nineties, as well as his mother, who reached the age of ninety-nine. Howard is survived by his daughter, Patti A. (Chuck) George; son, Bill (Jeanette) Franklin; grandchildren, Lindy and Steven George, Jenny (Luke) Mortensen, Jeff Franklin, and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements will be private for the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Avenue. Memorials may be made to Church of The Cross United Methodist Memorial Fund or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. www.walterfuneralhome.com Published in Toledo Blade from June 17 to June 18, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.